Is there such a thing as too much joy or doing too much spirit work? 

From my own experience, I would say "yes!"

After my first summer camp in 1985, Adnan invited me to stay for the September extension to help compile a book of student stories. I jumped at the opportunity. 

Although the workshop classes continued, I was not allowed to attend them because, according to Adnan, I had reached my capacity. Instead, I basked in the sun on the front porch of his house chatting with another student also not attending the workshops. It was a sublime rest I had never experienced before. It allowed me to absorb the impact of the summer that I might have lost in my rush to return to work and everyday concerns. I did not feel neglected or denied. I felt grateful.

The next year, after summer camp, I followed Adnan to Los Angeles and then to San Francisco to assist him with in delivering his workshops to new students. Jane, another Sufi student and I took registration. We were told not to attend his workshops because after a whole summer of workshops, we had reached our capacity. So we hung out in the hallway talking about the work while waiting for the session to end. 

One evening, however, as the workshop was winding down, Adnan put on some wild dance music. Restless from our wait , we decided that it would be ok to join the group since it was just dancing. When we entered the workshop room, we were blasted by an energy that was so intense and palpable it was overwhelming. The dance music, the culmination of the evening's work, gave us major Sufi hit. 

The next day, our mistake was clear. We found ourselves complaining about the workshop attendees and feeling irritated by the prospect of having to make dinner for them that night at a party. We did not want to go. But go we did. Fortunately, we had the presence of mind to limit our contact and conversation with the guests and mostly be invisible.

It was a lesson in limits I shall never forget.

How does this relate to the practice of joy? 

The pursuit of joy is also a spiritual practice. It requires us to pay attention, be mindful, in the moment and courageous.

If, like me, you’ve spent much of your life focused on being responsible, working hard, and checking off tasks, you might experience an unexpected struggle when trying to make joy a daily practice. Like Adnan’s Sufi workshops, practicing joy may need the development of capacity. 

Here are some things I discovered in my own pursuit of daily joy: 

How Pushback and Negativity Might Show Up:

• Body: Unexpected health issues, fatigue, or minor accidents
• Emotions: Anxiety or guilt about not doing what you “should” be doing
• Mind: Critical thoughts about yourself, others, or even the idea of prioritizing joy
• Others: Concerns or criticism for or from those around you

When I first committed to prioritizing joy, I literally fell flat on my face—injuring my wrist and knee. It was discouraging. It felt like the universe was pushing back against my efforts.

But instead of seeing it as a setback, I decided to reframed it.

A New Perspective

Rather than viewing the injury as a punishment or sabotage, I asked myself, What if this is an invitation to slow down?

• My wrist injury made long hours at the computer difficult—so I experimented with watercolor painting instead.
• Walking uphill was painful—so I explored new, flatter routes that brought unexpected moments of discovery and mindfulness.
• Yoga became less about pushing through and more about adapting, using props, and tuning into my body’s needs.

These small shifts helped me see that joy isn’t always about adding more—it’s also about being present and open to what’s possible in the moment.

What Holds Us Back From Joy?

Our early experiences shape our beliefs. Maybe you were taught:

• “It’s wrong to feel joy when others are struggling.”
• “Having fun is unproductive—there’s work to be done.”
• “Being playful is childish or frivolous.”
• “Making a mess while playing is bad.”

Or maybe you’ve been made to feel self-conscious for being too happy, as if joy makes you less serious or less responsible.

The Best Way to Overcome Resistance? Practice Joy Anyway.

The more we engage with joy, the more we uncover what’s holding us back and the more we develop our capacity. Notice where your resistance arises, and instead of pushing it away, get curious. Be courageous. Let joy lead the way.

How has joy pushback shown up for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Join me Sunday, March 30, at 8 am PDT and Tuesday, April 1, at 10:30 am PDT for a Sufi workshop of play and self-awareness to feed joy and Spirit in you life.

If you do not have the new Zoom link, please send me an email. 

With joy,

Dr. Michelle

Life Transformation Coach

Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss

Secrets of Life and Death