What the Joy?

Kali Jean is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate for joy-filled living. Her life’s work centers on helping women reconnect with their inner strength, rediscover their purpose, and choose joy no matter what life brings. Through her book What The Joy? she invites women to see joy, not as a fleeting feeling, but as a powerful choice that can anchor us through change, loss, growth, and everything in between.

For much of her life, Kali was the one taking care of everyone else—in her family, her business, and her community. Somewhere along the way, she lost sight of taking care of herself. She went through seasons of stress, loss, and self-doubt.

It was in those moments when life felt heavy that she discovered the true meaning of joy. Not the surface kind, but the kind of joy that holds you steady when everything is shifting. This discovery taught her resilience, faith, and the beauty of starting again.

This is where Kali finds strength—from her faith and the quiet moments when she remembers she’s not alone, God is still guiding her. She notes that even during the heaviest of times when she didn’t know how she’d make it through, she’d found a spark of light—sometimes through prayer, sometimes through a person who showed up at just the right moment, and sometimes through that small voice inside whispering, “Keep going.”

To get through the painful moments, Kali leans into prayer, gratitude, and the reminder that joy is still present. Her family and close friends have been her anchors and she finds that their love grounds her and reminds her why she keeps showing up. She says a lot of her strength comes from within—from choosing to believe that what she’s been through wasn’t for nothing.

Her journey is the foundation of her book. She wanted to help others see that their story, no matter how messy or painful, can become their message. That joy isn’t just what we feel when life is easy; it’s the light we carry through every chapter. There’s meaning in the mess and purpose in the pain. What The Joy? is really about finding joy, not because life is perfect, but because you’ve learned to see the beauty, even in the breaking.

Kali wrote What The Joy? after a vivid dream where she lost her inner child named Joy on the fast-paced expressway of life. In the dream, she remembers feeling desperate to find her, and when she woke up, that feeling stayed with her. She realized that somewhere along the way, she’d been moving so quickly, giving so much, that she’d misplaced her sense of wonder, peace, and joy.

Finding joy again became her only concern, and soon after, she felt a divine nudge to write the book. Through seasons of loss, burnout, and deep self-reflection, she discovered that joy isn’t something that just happens. It’s something we must choose, nurture, and protect.

She wants readers to see that joy isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. It’s about noticing the small, sacred moments in everyday life and remembering that growth and gratitude can coexist with pain.

What The Joy? became more than a book. It became a movement, a reminder that when we focus on the good, the good truly gets better.

Kali feels called to help others find light in their own lives and over the years, that calling has become clearer and stronger. What started as personal growth and healing her own patterns, rebuilding her health, and rediscovering joy, evolved into a passion to guide others through the same.

“It’s less about a career path and more about a divine purpose, a pull on her heart to serve, uplift, and remind others that they are capable of creating a life filled with meaning, strength, and joy. It’s not something she chose once; it’s something she chooses daily.”

She says, “What I want women to know is that they are not broken and that even in their hardest seasons, they are becoming. We spend so much of our lives trying to hold it all together, meet expectations, and pour into everyone else, that we forget we’re allowed to pause, to heal, and to grow at our own pace.

I want women to know that joy isn’t reserved for when everything finally works out. It’s available right now, even in the midst of uncertainty, rebuilding, and rediscovering who you are. You are worthy of peace, purpose, and love right where you are. You have the ability to bring JOY into your life!”

She hopes her story will show that you can rise from anything. The same light you see in others is already within you.

One of the biggest lessons she’s learned is that peace and joy are not destinations, they’re daily decisions. Life will always have challenges, but how we respond determines how we rise. She’s learned that slowing down to breathe, pray, and give thanks can shift everything. Gratitude truly changes our perspective.

Another key lesson is that healing isn’t linear. Growth takes time, and it’s okay to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress. She’s learned to honor where she is, instead of constantly rushing to where she thinks she should be. And perhaps most importantly, self-care isn’t selfish. Taking care of your mind, body, and spirit allows you to show up stronger for everyone else.

Kali’s book, What The Joy?, is a heartfelt guide to rediscovering the light within yourself, no matter what life looks like right now. It’s not just another self-help book; it’s a reminder that joy is something we can choose, create, and live from every single day.

She walks readers through the process of shifting their perspective, finding gratitude in the ordinary, and rebuilding from a place of strength and faith. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost, tired, or stuck, and is ready to reconnect with purpose and peace.