What can feather boas, therapy, and TikTok teach us about joy, boundaries, and belonging?
In this edition of Work is Third, Dr. Alicia Justice talks about what it means to force joy when life feels heavy, the liberating power of therapy, and how self-expression through color and fashion becomes an act of resistance and self-love. Alicia shares stories of her journey: claiming space as a first generation scholar, navigating church and cultural messages about humility, and embracing joy as both practice and survival.
We also laugh about childhood boas, mismatched accessories, and playing dress up in our closets as adults. Along the way, Alicia reminds us: we don’t have to earn our worth, we don’t have to do all the things, and we’re still amazing even on the hard days.
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Keywords
liberation, joy, human experience, authenticity, societal norms, currency, resources, self-expression, color, childhood stories
📂 Section Markers
01:41 Section 1: From Giddy to Green: Joy, Color, and Childhood Stories
33:36 Section 2: Breaking Through and Belonging
📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Giddy Anticipation
03:36 Rebooking the Japan Trip
06:10 The Joy of Color and Personal Style
14:10 Childhood Memories and Fashion Choices
19:46 Therapy and the Journey to Joy
24:43 The Importance of Self-Awareness
26:47 Therapy: A Path to Self-Discovery
32:42 Embracing Age and Self-Acceptance
37:40 The Power of Affirmation and Support
38:35 Cultural Influences on Self-Perception
41:26 Breaking Free from Guilt and Responsibility
42:44 Curating a Positive Online Experience
50:35 Curating Happiness Beyond Work
💬 Quotes to hold on to:
Resources Mentioned:
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