Best with Jess Living

Introduction

It’s amazing how often we turn down little joys, almost without thinking: dessert at dinner, skipping a girls’ night out, putting off a dream – thinking you were being “disciplined,” only to regret it later? As women, we often live under impossible standards: to always be healthy, productive, responsible, and frankly, perfect. But sometimes, the thing we need most is the opposite.

My first encounter with this truth came in nursing school, when a guest speaker’s story reshaped the way I saw joy, grace, and the way we live our days. His advice? Eat the cookie.

What “cookie” are you saying no to right now?

The Lesson That Changed Everything

The speaker was just 27 years old. At an annual office party, someone offered him a cookie from a fresh batch. He declined, saying, “I’m trying to be healthy.” Hours later, he suffered a sudden, massive stroke.

As he was being airlifted to the hospital, you might expect he thought about family, faith, or unfinished dreams. Instead, he admitted: “I should’ve eaten the cookie.”

His point was clear. In the end, what matters isn’t strict discipline or flawless choices. What matters is joy! It’s in the little moments we say yes to, even when logic or guilt tells us no.

The Science of Choosing Joy

Research in positive psychology shows that joy and gratitude aren’t luxuries. They’re linked to lower stress, improved immunity, and stronger relationships. Neuroscience even reveals that when we savor small pleasures, we release dopamine, the “feel good” chemical that boosts motivation and focus.

Choosing joy isn’t indulgence – it’s resilience. When we practice joy regularly, we create mental strength that carries us through the harder seasons of life.

Why We Keep Saying No

So why do we turn down life’s cookies?

• Perfection Pressure: We want to make the “right” choice, even if it costs us joy.
  
• Comparison Culture: Social media fuels the myth that everyone else is healthier, fitter, or more disciplined.
  
• Fear of Judgment: We worry what others will think if we prioritize enjoyment over restraint.
  

It’s so ironic that saying no to small joys rarely makes us healthier – it makes us emptier.

How to Practice “Eating the Cookie” Daily

“Eat the Cookie” isn’t about dessert. It’s a mindset shift:

• Joy: Give yourself permission to delight in small, seemingly insignificant pleasures.
  
• Consistency: Choose joy regularly, not just on holidays or when you “earn it.”
  
• Grace: Release the guilt that comes with believing you have to deserve joy first.
  

Here are a few ways to put it into practice:

1. Notice Your Cookies: What small joys are you turning down out of habit?
   
2. Give Yourself Grace: A cookie, a skipped workout, or an unplanned afternoon off won’t derail your progress—it might just refuel your spirit.
   
3. Build Joy Into Routine: Schedule something joyful each week. A walk with a friend, fresh flowers for your desk, or yes—the cookie.
   

Conclusion + Call-to-Action

The man’s story in my classroom years ago wasn’t really about cookies. It was about choosing joy while you can. Life is fragile, unpredictable, and too short to miss the sweetness right in front of you.

So here’s my challenge: What is the cookie in your life you’ve been saying no to? Maybe it’s a new opportunity, an afternoon nap, or something as simple as chocolate chip cookies. This week, say yes. Eat the cookie.

👉🏼 If this resonated with you, stick around for freshly-baked insight, fun fashion, joyful recipes, themed gift guides and more!

“Eat the Cookie” is a lifestyle, so let’s keep exploring how to live with joy, consistency, and grace!

Follow me on IG: @bestwithjessliving and @jessica_fabus_cheng