Joy is having a moment. Not the sugary, fleeting kind, but the grounded, resilient kind you build from the inside out. As we welcome 2026, we're introducing you to Allegra Cohen, a TEDx speaker, author and Chief Joy Officer whose work is shaped by a lifetime of turning hard moments into fuel.
“I teach people how to train for joy the way they train for success.”
Her relationship with joy began years before she ever stepped onto major stages. At five years old, she performed on Al Alberts Showcase, a Star-Search–style TV show that showcased little talents with big dreams.
“That stage taught me what it means to shine, not perform.”
But her path wasn’t a straight line.
In fifth grade, she became the target of relentless bullying. Classmates would pour Elmer’s glue into her curly hair. She’d get her pants yanked down in chorus. And one time, a boy kicked her in the stomach. She remembers every detail with startling clarity. Childhood cruelty imprints itself, and those moments don’t disappear just because we grow up. They stay with us even into adulthood.
Allegra spent nights lying awake, imagining the next day’s torment. And even now, she carries the memory of that ache. However, the memory is no longer a wound; rather, a source.
“I learned that I had to create and infuse joy into myself because I couldn’t count on receiving it outside of me. It’s a reminder of why joy matters and how early we learn to armor ourselves.”
Studies in psychology agree with her instinct.
Positive emotions don’t erase negative experiences; but according to the broaden-and-build theory, they build mental resources that help people withstand them. Joy doesn’t replace fear. It strengthens the mind so fear doesn’t win.
So she crafted her own morning RICHual. As a kid, she’d wake early, dance around her room, write positive affirmations, and breathed through her fear.
“What started as a clunky fifth grade survival strategy became the method I teach today.”
At sixteen, life threw another curve... a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Pain became a constant, yet she refused to let illness become her identity.
“I couldn’t control Crohn’s, but I could control what I engaged with. That discipline of choosing where to place my focus eventually evolved into my signature concept of micro-JOYS®️- a concept I trademarked.”
These small, everyday sparks can shift the nervous system in seconds. Research shows that even ten seconds of “savoring” reduces cortisol and anchors the brain back into the present. Science also shows that movement magnifies this effect. Dancing, shaking out your shoulders or changing posture can increase dopamine within 30-90 seconds.
“Micro-JOYS don’t cost anything. They are right in front of you. You just have to be willing to look for them.”
Before she became a national voice on joy she was an actor and producer working with names like James Franco, Adrien Brody and Billy Crystal. She built a career behind the camera and in front of it, including producing a film that won Best Picture at the Phoenix Film Festival. She calls herself a professional asker, collecting every rejection into what she calls her “rejection collection.”
“Every brave ask builds resilience.”
Her work now is expansive and national. She was invited to lead a session for the U.S. Navy’s Warrior Toughness Initiative, speaking to Squadron HSM-60.
“I taught the nation’s bravest how to be brave in a different way.”
Even the Navy learned that resilience isn’t about tightening; it’s about softening. And research supports this. Positive emotion widens cognitive flexibility, increases performance under stress and improves recovery after intense alert states.
“Being brave doesn’t mean staying hard. It means staying open.”
She watched hardened service members breathe, laugh, shake off tension and rediscover their capacity for presence. It reaffirmed something she had known since childhood.
“We all need tools to go from pressure to presence, from high alert back to home.”
Allegra’s TEDx talk, centered on micro-JOYS and attention as power, continues to expand her reach. And her debut book is a guide for anyone craving a braver, lighter, more intentional way of being.
“You can honor the hard without silencing the joy.”
Joy, she notes, has become more than a feeling. It has become the cultural word of the year. Google Trends reports that searches for “joy,” “joy practice” and “joy coach” have surged more than 300%.
“You cannot always control what happens, but you can always train how you respond.”
As the new year begins, her invitation is simple: choose joy on purpose. Not because life is easy, but because life is life.
“Joy is not a mood. Joy is a strategy.”
5 MICRO-JOY PRACTICES TO START TODAY (not tomorrow)
Say it before the world rushes in
The moment you open your eyes, whisper: “Today is a great day.” This anchors your brain into positive expectancy, a state linked to improved focus and emotional regulation.
Do one 3-4-5 breath
Inhale for three
Hold for four
Exhale for five
A longer exhale signals the vagus nerve to shift you out of fight-or-flight.
Spot one micro-JOY
A sunbeam. A warm mug. A color you love.
Share a joy with someone
Positive emotion is contagious.
Choose one brave act
Small bravery builds confidence daily.
“You can honor the hard without silencing the joy.”
Allegra Cohen
Allegra is available for joy consultations and national speaking engagements, with a strong focus on corporate culture, leadership development and organizational wellbeing. For Brave Life merch and Allegra’s book visit: microjoys.com