Pisces: A Roadmap to Creating Joy

Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned. I know, shocking right?

Of course, we all know this. We are all very accustomed to things not going our way, best-laid plans going awry, and needing to improvise on the fly. Additionally, we’ve all experienced things unfolding exactly as we envisioned… but we don’t end up feeling the way we expected. The latter, I think, happens more often than we realize but in either case, we’re presented with a choice:

Lament our bungled plans and missed expectations – OR – choose joy?

Choosing joy in the face of these things might feel a little strange, but stay with me. We can’t control what happens to us, around us, or in the world at large. What we can control is how we respond. We tend to tether our happiness to external events—a new job, a big vacation, a marriage, a pregnancy—but circumstances are notoriously unpredictable. They arise, shift, evolve, and disappear.

When we live with the mindset that happiness is tied to “what should have happened” or “what shouldn’t have happened,” life becomes a cycle of frustration and disappointment. What if, instead, we saw life through the lens of choice—choosing where to place our attention, choosing how to feel, choosing how to experience everything?

Pisces season invites us to do just that. This is a time when we can tap into joy that lasts beyond fleeting moments and circumstances. But, like any other month, Pisces season also offers a challenge. While Pisces can teach about great joy, it also requires us to confront the ways we succumb to victimhood. A “victim consciousness” is the belief that our happiness is dictated by forces outside of us. The only way to dismantle this belief is by choosing its opposite. Joy isn’t something we chase; it’s something we cultivate. And like anything worth mastering, it takes practice.

So how do we practice joy? Here are four simple ways:

1. Shake Up Your Routine

Routine keeps us on autopilot. Breaking out of it sparks newness! Whether it’s a walk in nature, a day trip, or a guided meditation, doing something different rewires our brain and awakens joy. A long walk, a chosen moment of stillness, or even trying something outside your comfort zone can work wonders. What’s one small shift you can make today?

2. Make Play a Priority

Joy thrives in playfulness—activities done just for the fun of it. Dance, ride a bike, paint, play fetch with your dog. Play isn’t about achieving; it’s about being present. If you catch yourself turning play into a performance (perfecting that yoga pose, for example), pause. Shift your focus to the sensation you feel, or purposely do it badly and collapse in laughter! Science backs this up—play nurtures social skills, encourages silliness, and strengthens community, all of which amplify joy.

3. Honor Yourself—Often

Joy isn’t something others give us, it comes from within. Too often, we internalize criticism or take things personally and allow it to shape our self-worth. Instead, interrupt negative self-talk with affirmations: I am whole and complete. I did my best. I love myself. The more we affirm, the more we own our joy.

4. Take a Real Break

Solitude is a secret weapon for happiness. Studies show that those who enjoy alone time experience less stress and greater life satisfaction. Schedule time when you have no obligations—no emails, no errands, no responsibilities. Just space to breathe, be, and do nothing. Whether it’s a massage, a nap, or even just spending 15 minutes sitting by a window watching the world pass by. Reclaiming time for yourself reconnects you to joy.

Kabbalist Rav Berg explained that Piscean energy is connected to two worlds: the physical world as we see and experience it, and the spiritual, or unseen, world of energy and emotion. Pisces brings us an opportunity to be in the physical world of shifting circumstances but to choose how we feel and experience it—something that comes from the unseen realms.

This month, remember that joy is a spiritual choice, not a condition. Where we place our attention is what grows. If we focus on what’s missing or unfair, all we’ll find is frustration. But if we shift toward gratitude, presence, and play, we create more moments where joy naturally arises, no matter what is or isn’t going to plan.

The post Pisces: A Roadmap to Creating Joy appeared first on Monica Berg.