The Joyful Living Project
Inspiring Joy Around the World
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What if...in today's world, filled with negativity, stress, and suffering,
…we didn’t have to wait for things to change to begin our healing?
…the catalyst for positive change lies within our daily experiences?
…we could leave a legacy of hope, positivity, and inspiration for our children and generations to come?
I believe that all of this is possible and...
It starts with the gift of Joy
"The Game of Joy" Book
The secret to Creating Your own Happiness
(Even When Life is Stressful)
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My name is Yasmin Nguyen, and I am on a mission to inspire more joy, connection and freedom in our lives.
I created the Joyful Living Project to activate positive change and build thriving relationships, businesses, and communities.
I packed up my life and I drove across America for 18-months to explore 3 basic questions:
- What does joy look like in our lives?
- How can it positively impact our relationships, businesses, and community?
- What’s holding us back from experiencing more joy?
I believe that by exploring these questions, we have the opportunity to expand possibilities and transform the way we live, the way we connect, and the way we make a difference.
I believe that from this seed of joy grows hope, possibility, kindness, love, gratitude, empathy, and connection that can transform our lives, relationships, and country.
I believe that in every moment, we have the choice to focus on what’s wrong or what’s good. My mission is to invite people to choose joy.
Organizations and Conferences Yasmin has been Invited as a Speaker
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Instagram: @joyfullivingproject
Jul 31
Thank you to all the amazing instructors for inspiring me to challenge myself to the next level of growth! We never know what`s possible until we push ourselves beyond our comfort zones.
30 classes in 30 days, 5 class formats x 6 each
#purebarre
Mar 8
Today I reached another personal best. I completed 20 barre classes in a single week!
Thank you to all the instructors and the Austin Pure Barre community members for all your support! It was a huge physical and mental challenge and I couldn`t have done it without you!🙏
This may seem like a crazy idea🤪 but sometimes when we interrupt the patterns of our daily lives with something like this that pushes us well beyond what we think we can handle or do, we discover a whole new level of growth, confidence and possibilities.
If I can commit and do this for a week, what else can I do and become.
You don`t have to take 20 barre classes in 20 days to challenge yourself, but imagine what you can do when you step outside of your comfort zone for a week? What`s waiting for you on the other side?
Jan 2
This year, I’m not picking resolutions. I’m picking a way of living.
My 2026 theme words are:
Peace
Generosity
Intimacy
Adventure
Flourishing
These aren’t my usual achievement words. They’re experience words.
The kind that quietly shape a year from the inside out. They point me toward a year measured less by output and more by how life feels in my body, my relationships, and my days.
Peace is my foundation. Not the kind that avoids hard things, the kind that helps me return to calm faster. Cleaner calendar. Simpler decisions. More recovery. Less negotiating with what drains me.
Intimacy is the roots. More honesty, fewer performative conversations. Depth over breadth. Showing up more consistently for the people that matter, and letting myself be seen instead of always being “fine.”
Adventure is the sunlight. Not chaos, but planned novelty. New places, new rooms, new skills, new stories. The antidote to autopilot.
Generosity is the fruit. Giving that feels joyful and intentional, time, attention, encouragement, introductions, patience, forgiveness. Overflow, not obligation.
And flourishing is the whole garden. Not “Did I grind hard enough?” but “Am I becoming more alive?” Steadier moods. Better energy. Stronger relationships. A life that feels like it’s expanding in the right direction.
If you’re choosing your own theme for 2026, here’s a question I’m holding:
What would happen if you built your year around how you want to live, not just what you want to achieve?
Wishing you a year that feels grounded and brave.
What are your words for 2026?
Jan 2
Nothing like starting off the new year with a little Polar Plunge challenge!
Dec 25
Thinking this may be a new holiday tradition
Dec 24
Working off those holiday cookies and making room for more with a little lift, tone, and burn! 🔥
Thanks Rachel and LB for making this mornings barre class oh what fun!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
18-Month Journey Across America
Follow the Joyful Living Project Journey
Follow the Joyful Living Project Journey
Joy Shared in These All Places 2018 - 2020
On July 1, 2018, I began my 18-month journey across the country to curate ideas, conversations, and communities that inspire joy, connection and freedom.
Portland, OR July 1 – August 16
Seattle, WA Aug 17 – August 19
Bandon, OR Sept 6
Ashland, OR Sept. 7
San Francisco, CA Sept. 8 – Oct. 3
Los Angeles, CA Oct. 4 – Oct. 11
Chattanooga, TN Oct. 12- Oct. 15
Palm Springs, CA Oct. 16 – Oct. 24
Phoenix, AZ Oct. 25 -Oct. 31
Tucson, AZ Nov. 1 – Nov. 6
Houston, TX Nov 8 – Nov 12
Portland, OR Nov. 13- Nov. 30
Dallas, TX Dec. 27 – Dec. 30
Playa Del Carmen, Mex Jan. 19 – Jan. 27
Tokyo, Japan Feb. 1 – Feb. 18
New Orleans, LA March 16 – March 21
Vancouver, Canada March 23 – April 10
Houston, TX April 12 – April 14
Austin, TX April 15 – April 28
Dallas, TX May 2
New Orleans, LA May 3
Blairsville, GA May 4 – May 5
Chattanooga, TN May 6 – May 12
Atlanta, GA May 13 – May 14
Nashville, TN May 16 – May 19
Asheville, NC May 19 – May 21
Charlotte, NC May 22 – May 24
Miami, FL May 25 – May 31
Havana, Cuba – June 1 – June 4
Philadelphia, PA June 7- June 11
Fenwick Island, DE June 12- June 14
New York City, NY June 15 – June 23
Boston, MA June 24 – June 27
New Hampshire June 28 – June 30
San Francisco, CA July 1 – Aug. 3
Pittsburgh, PA Aug. 5 – Aug. 6
Indianapolis, IN Aug. 7 – Aug. 9
Marion, IN Aug. 10 – Aug. 12
Chicago, IL Aug. 13 – Aug. 15
Detroit, MI Aug. 16 – Aug. 18
Chicago, IL Aug. 19 – Aug. 25
Kansas City, MO Aug. 26 – Aug. 29
Denver, CO Aug. 30 – Sept. 5
Boulder, CO Sept. 6
Bryce Canyon, UT Sept. 7
Zion National Park, UT Sept. 9
Salt Lake City, UT Sept. 10- Sept. 16
Boulder, CO Sept. 17
Morrisville, MO Sept. 18 – Sept. 19
Louisville, KY Sept. 20 – Sept. 21
Cincinnati, OH Sept. 22
Columbus, OH Sept. 22 – Sept. 26
Washington DC Sept. 27 – Oct. 13
Philadelphia, PA Oct. 14
Boston, MA Oct. 15
Vermont & NH Oct. 16 – Oct. 18
Portland, ME Oct. 19 – Oct 20
Fenwick Island, DE Oct. 21 – Oct. 27
Branson, MI Oct. 30 – Nov. 4
Portland, OR Nov. 20 – Dec. 4
Ft Worth, TX Dec. 9 – Dec. 12
Miami, FL Dec. 15 – Dec. 20
Phoenix, AZ Dec. 24 – Dec. 26
Santa Ana, CA Dec. 27 – Dec. 29
San Diego, CA Dec. 30 – Jan. 5
Palm Springs, CA Jan. 6 – Jan. 9
San Francisco, CA Jan. 11 – March 11
As I travelled across America, I explored joy through...
- Interviews with local “Joy Makers”: individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that uniquely inspire joy.
- Conversations with thought leaders, and the most joyful people in town, to explore what joy looks like through their eyes.
- Local adventures and experiences call “Joy Rides” that activate new ideas and possibilities.
- Organized meetups and workshops to explore what holds us back from more joy, connection and freedom.
- Presentations to larger audiences at companies, conferences, and community groups on self-care, work-life balance, and resilience.
- Social kindness experiments called “Joy Missions” that surprise recipients with random acts of kindness, gratitude and generosity.
- Inspiring photos and videos documenting joyful places, conversations, and experiences on social media.
The Numbers
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Experience the Beauty from this Journey
Yasmin's Travel Photography: Instagram @Yazpics
Meet Joyful Joe
Instagram @Joe.joyful
Joyful Joe is a Joy Ambassador who has been travelling with me. He’s just your average Joe who reminds us that anyone can experience moments joy in the simplest ways.
Kindness brings joy to both the giver and receiver. Take a moment to share kindness today!
A Joy Reminder from #JoyfulJoe
Kindness brings joy to both the giver and receiver. Take a moment to share kindness today!
A Joy Reminder from #JoyfulJoe
Ok, beam me up Scotty!
Ok, beam me up Scotty!
Found a nice walking stick for my hike through Zion Canyon. #JoyfulJoe #hiking #zionnationalpark
Found a nice walking stick for my hike through Zion Canyon. #JoyfulJoe #hiking #zionnationalpark
Don`t forget to stop to smell the flowers. Joy is in being present and appreciating the beauty in front of us. #JoyfulJoe #bepresent #smelltheflowers #boulder #joy
Don`t forget to stop to smell the flowers. Joy is in being present and appreciating the beauty in front of us. #JoyfulJoe #bepresent #smelltheflowers #boulder #joy
Found my long lost bigger cousin Joyful John in Pittsburgh! #JoyfulJoe #pittsburgh
Found my long lost bigger cousin Joyful John in Pittsburgh! #JoyfulJoe #pittsburgh
From I can tell, Randy is pretty darn creative and colorful! #JoyfulJoe #artist #randyland #pittsburgh
From I can tell, Randy is pretty darn creative and colorful! #JoyfulJoe #artist #randyland #pittsburgh
They call these redwoods! #JoyfulJoe #redwoods #trees #muirwoodsnationalmonument
They call these redwoods! #JoyfulJoe #redwoods #trees #muirwoodsnationalmonument
I`m exercising my first amendment right #JoyfulJoe #firstamendment #constitution #muirwoods #funnysigns
I`m exercising my first amendment right #JoyfulJoe #firstamendment #constitution #muirwoods #funnysigns
Such colorful friends here in this sleepy beach town! #JoyfulJoe #frogstatue #beachtown
Such colorful friends here in this sleepy beach town! #JoyfulJoe #frogstatue #beachtown
I love waterfalls!!! #JoyfulJoe #muirwoods #waterrefillingstation #waterfall
I love waterfalls!!! #JoyfulJoe #muirwoods #waterrefillingstation #waterfall
Sometimes I like to just dance in the woods. #JoyfulJoe #muirwoods #feellikedancing
Sometimes I like to just dance in the woods. #JoyfulJoe #muirwoods #feellikedancing
I found a new friend! #JoyfulJoe #bear #wildlife #muirwoods
I found a new friend! #JoyfulJoe #bear #wildlife #muirwoods
I`d like to introduce you to my friend Karl #karlthefog . He gets around! #fog #sanfrancisco #coldsummers #bayarea #JoyfulJoe #travel
I`d like to introduce you to my friend Karl #karlthefog . He gets around! #fog #sanfrancisco #coldsummers #bayarea #JoyfulJoe #travel
Woohoo! Going off road! #JoyfulJoe #bicycle #mountainbike #cycling
Woohoo! Going off road! #JoyfulJoe #bicycle #mountainbike #cycling
Looks like I found a wonderful nook in New Hampshire! #JoyfulJoe #nook #cabininthewoods #lakefront #lakelife
Looks like I found a wonderful nook in New Hampshire! #JoyfulJoe #nook #cabininthewoods #lakefront #lakelife
I`m a glass is half full guy kinda guy. #JoyfulJoe #glasshalffull #joy #positivity #optimism
I`m a glass is half full guy kinda guy. #JoyfulJoe #glasshalffull #joy #positivity #optimism
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
~Maya Angelou