When Auckland woman Jen Sievers was diagnosed with cancer, the last thing she expected was for her life to change for the better. But six years on from her diagnosis, her life has changed in huge, drastic and inspiring ways – she’s found joy again, so much so she’s now written a book that charts her discoveries, her passions and her biggest tips for those looking for a little spark of joy.
Let’s start with a bit of a mess, shall we? Because honestly, that’s where the good stuff usually begins.
For me, it was a sunny spring day on the deck with a scrap of ply from the garage, mismatched paints, and a two-year-old asleep inside. I had no plan. I was exhausted – mum-tired, life-tired – but overwhelmed by a screaming urge to paint.
I hadn’t touched a brush in 25 years. I’d dropped out of art school, spent 15 years in graphic design, and buried my creative self under motherhood and busyness. But that day, something shifted. What I painted wasn’t a masterpiece, but it was a message: I’m still here. I’m joy. And I’ve been waiting.
That messy moment lit a spark. That evening, I told my then-husband I was going to be an artist. Five years and thousands of tiny steps later, I was dreaming of quitting my day job.
The decision didn’t come easily – and the catalyst was unexpected.
In 2019, at 40, I found a lump in my breast. After months of tests and waiting, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was lucky – my doctor even called it the “good breast cancer,” the kind they can cure – but the blur of surgeries, radiotherapy, and endless decisions was overwhelming.
Cancer gave me perspective. Mortality has a way of clarifying what matters. Financial security suddenly felt less important than following my most joyful path. Radiotherapy’s relentless schedule sealed it; something had to give, and I chose to leap.
In January 2020, I quit my job to embrace art full-time. Within months, Covid lockdowns had people stuck at home, staring at their walls, and my art business flourished. Cancer, as strange as it sounds, became one of my greatest gifts. It forced me to be brave. Without it, I might never have taken the leap.
One lesson it left me with: joy can come in unexpected forms, even from devastating situations. When things go wrong, ask: What are the gifts of this difficult time? Sometimes they’re hard to see until later, but they’re always there – resilience, compassion, or new doors opening.
Joy as a Practice
The life I built after cancer gave me space to be present, curious, and to prioritise joy. I painted for thousands of hours, often with podcasts about joy and well-being playing in the background. I tried everything I learned, noticed what worked, and slowly turned joy into an art form.
I realised that joy doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. It doesn’t arrive when the to-do list is done, the inbox cleared, or the goal achieved. Those things bring happiness, yes – but joy is different. Joy is a practice. It’s available now, in the middle of ordinary life.
The trouble is, our brains aren’t wired for joy – they’re wired for survival. For millennia, we scanned for danger, which kept us alive. These days, that same wiring means we obsess over the negatives. I like to think of it as pizza: you can have a whole, delicious pizza, but if one slice is burnt, that’s all you remember. In the same way, ten rough minutes can eclipse 23 hours of ordinary wonder.
Joy practices don’t pretend the burnt slice doesn’t exist—they just help us notice the rest of the pizza too. They teach us to focus not only on the drama but on the richness all around us.
And one of the simplest ways to begin is by seeking out Little Joys – the tiny, everyday sparks we so often overlook.
Little Joys
Think of them as treasures hiding in plain sight. If we pay attention to them, collect them, even celebrate them, they add up to a beautiful life.
My favourite practice for this is a ‘Delight Practice’, inspired by Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights. Whenever you notice something delightful, call it out. Write a list, tap it into your phone, or simply say the word “DELIGHT!” out loud.
The first time I tried it, I was walking my dogs when I saw two elderly women pushing their equally elderly pups in baby strollers. The dogs’ scruffy little faces were lit with joy as they rolled along. Pure delight.
Sharing the practice makes it even better. Try it with friends, family, or children—point out delights to each other or swap photos daily. Even if their delight isn’t yours, their joy will light you up.
Looking for delights transforms the in-between moments from a worry-fest into a hunt for joy.
More Than Delights
Of course, joy goes deeper than spotting charming moments. The Art of Joy explores the science behind happiness, nervous system resets, connection, play, and the joy of colour and creativity. It’s full of practical rituals and creative projects – like a pick-and-mix where you can choose what fits your life.
Here are five to try right now:
Five Quick Ways to Bring Joy Into Your Day
- Make it sacred
Light a candle, savour your tea, or slow down in the shower – turn everyday routines into rituals. - Double down
When something feels good, don’t rush past it. Pause and let the moment expand. - Move your body
Dance, stretch, or walk outside. Even a few minutes of movement can shift your mood. - Offer kindness
Send a message, compliment someone, or smile at a stranger. Joy often multiplies when it’s shared. - Micro-celebrations
Celebrate the little wins. Finish a task? Do a fist pump. Tick off a chore? Play your favourite song. Tiny victories deserve joy too.
Joy isn’t about ignoring life’s difficulties or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about noticing what’s still good, still beautiful, still worth celebrating – even when things feel messy or uncertain. Cancer taught me that life is too precious to postpone joy until the stars align. The invitation is always there, right here, in the middle of ordinary days. And if you let it, joy has a way of sneaking in, filling the cracks with light, and reminding you that even in hardship, life can still be deeply, wonderfully alive.
WIN: AN ORIGINAL JEN SIEVERS ARTWORK!
To celebrate her new book, The Art of Joy (available now) Jen has graciously gifted Capsule an original artwork to give away to one lucky reader. These paintings are small rebellions against the heavy stuff – proof that joy can still bloom, even when the world feels too much. They’re fragments of wonder, reminders to pause, notice, and smile. Born of play, devoted to play. Because in the end, that’s the work – to keep dancing, to keep dreaming, to keep finding delight in the details.
One reader will be able to pick one of Jen’s circular original artworks on canvas, worth $850 (click here to see all of them) – a truly special piece and an amazing way to spread more joy!
HOW TO ENTER:
Simple! Just make sure you’re signed up to our weekly newsletter – the link is here – and you’re in the draw! All existing subscribers are in the draw already!