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Episode 45 is a fun one, friends, because my guest today is Candace Payne. You may know her as “Chewbacca Mom” but after this episode, I hope you see a woman who shares a lot of the same struggles we all do and has earned some hard-fought wisdom about finding joy in the process.
When Candace put on a Chewbacca mask two years ago, she never imagined that her life would be brought to the place it is today. The video gave millions of people a good laugh and also opened up doors of opportunity for Candace. We talk a bit about how wonderful the ride has been and what she has learned in the process. God answered her prayer of heard and being seen. And she’s seen so much validity of pausing in the moment and being present. All of this has led to gratitude and gratefulness which leads to JOY!
At one point in her life, Candace undervalued who she was created to be. What Candace discovered about authenticity in her life will teach you to seek truth in your own. It was when she went from obscurity to an unexpected platform that Candace faced the reality of her identity, asking, “Who am I?” in the light recognition. While we tend to think of Candace as a fun-loving “people person”, she discovered that she was really a calm and confident introvert. Candace found simple joy in the quiet of her own heart. Sitting in the stillness with God, calmed her striving and she’s become more comfortable in the quiet. (And her definition of stillness is different than what you likely think!) I can’t wait for you to listen to how Candace discovered who she was through the combination of her experiences, the perspective of her creator, and standing in confidence in the way she was created to be different. I hope listening to this episode encourages you to think about how you are created differently, friend. And how your differences are right, holy, and to be celebrated!
While Candace accepts the role as an “Ambassador of Joy”, finding joy has not always been easy for Candace. She reminds us that no one is immune to life’s trials and even Candace has struggled. She opened up about a time in college when she attempted suicide. When she talked about her effort to take her life, she surprised me by sharing that it wasn’t a collection of bad days that led her to this point. Instead, it was a quick, instant mind-shift that led to a decision to take her life. Her vulnerability brought compassion and understanding for the subject of suicidal thoughts and attempts of suicide.
In her new book, Simple Joy, you’ll find gold nuggets of joy. She sees a gap where we have overlooked opportunities of joy. Candace helps us see the way we wrongly assume joy is only for certain personalities or groups of people. Instead, joy is available for all of us and we can all take advantage of searching, or prospecting, for joy. Candace spent some time (like a scientist!) literally researching gold and how it is prospected. What she found fascinated me! Did you know that you can take 1 ounce of gold and stretch it to 9 miles long? Prospecting gold is such a good parallel for joy. Like gold, joy needs to be prospected and it may require you to get your hands dirty in the process. It takes time and patience to excavate gold, just like it takes digging through muck and mire of life to prospect joy!
Candace’s book, “Simple Joys – Discovering Wonder in the Everyday” releases September 25th.
If you pre-order the book today, you will have access to a FREE Simple Joys scavenger hunt, prints, artwork and a fun surprise! Who doesn’t love surprises?!? Preorder today by clicking HERE.
If you haven’t watched the Chewbacca video in a while– scroll down and watch it again. I PROMISE it will bring a smile to your face.
Here’s where you scroll for key parts in this episode on Simple Joy:
[9:00] – Fighting for joy
[13:00] – Self Love and True Identity
[18:00] – Joy to Fight for: Candace’s suicide attempt and postpartum depression
[27:00] – Don’t let the journey for Joy hold you back: Practical Tips on Experiencing Joy
[30:00] – Prospecting for Joy like gold
QUOTABLE MOMENTS
{16:08}”I’m gonna do the hard work of seeing who I am through the perspective of the one who created me. I’m gonna own some things from what I’ve experienced and lived and I’m gonna stand in what I know; that I am different and unique and ‘called to be’.”
{29:35} “I really believe joy is something that has strength and it is a fighter. It is something that says I will stand with you in this. And I think it’s overlooked all the time as a weapon. Joy really is a weapon for life’s darkest moments that it deals us.”
