Hold On to Joy For Dear Life

Judith A. Swack Ph.D. • November 29, 2023

Kathleen finished her Ph.D. in 3 ½ years instead of 5 by taking a heavier course load than required, spending 7 days a week doing research, and writing her dissertation. One month before her dissertation defense, she discovered that her post-graduation job had fallen through. Expecting to start the new job immediately, she had used up the last of her funds. Already exhausted, the prospect of having to find a new job was overwhelming. The next morning she woke up with the peculiar and insistent sensation of wanting to die.

Hoping the sensation would just dissipate, she ignored it, and continued studying for her defense. The feeling persisted. On the advice of a girlfriend who convinced her that this feeling was not normal, Kathleen saw a psychiatrist. He informed her that she was depressed and prescribed an antidepressant. He also cited a study in which rats continually run through mazes with no rest and no reward all became depressed. (You can tell a rat is depressed when you put it in a new cage and it does not explore.) Until that moment, she had never realized the importance of joy.



Over the years, my clients and I have explored the importance, cultivation and preservation of joy. Joy rejuvenates and refreshes us. It makes us glad to be alive. But joy is fragile. Joy can be poisoned or destroyed in many ways.


We discovered that at the body level, Kathleen was blocked from feeling joy because of phobias from early childhood experiences with her family. She was afraid that if she felt joy she would be:


  • disloyal to her family and rejected
  • criticized for being lazy
  • let her guard down and be attacked.


At the unconscious level, Kathleen poisoned her joy by having internalized her mother’s bitter habit of having to find something wrong with everything. Whenever there was an occasion for joy, Kathleen found herself compulsively focusing on and magnifying anything that could possibly be wrong.


It required 1 ½ years for Kathleen’s depression to lift completely. She cleared her dysfunctional family patterns and internalized bad habits with HBLU methodology. She also made significant lifestyle changes (nutrition, rest, exercise), and participated in weekly fun activities with friends. She found a new job, continued to advance her career, and met and married a wonderful husband.

Joyce had different strategies for destroying her joy. She believed her elementary school nuns who taught that everything in life had to be hard to be worthwhile. So, she discounted the gifts and accomplishments that came naturally to her and chose as her career the field she found to be most difficult (rather than most enjoyable). She also believed the teaching that we’re all sinners and suffering is the way to get to heaven, so you’re not allowed to feel too much joy. After clearing the religious brainwashing with HBLU, Joyce changed careers.


How do we protect and preserve our joy?
It is important to not only clear patterns to experiencing joy but to actively cultivate joy. Joy can come from exceptional experiences such as falling in love, getting married, having a baby, or traveling. Joy can also come from everyday experiences such as hearing beautiful music, wearing clothes or colors that you like, seeing something beautiful in nature, feeling your body’s joy that you are exercising, etc.


  • My clients and I have devised the following Joy Strategy:
  • Notice when you are feeling joy.
  • Pause what you’re doing in that moment, tune inwards, and take a deep breath.
  • Savor the feeling of joy. Drink it in. Feel it filling and nourishing your body.
  • Acknowledge with gratitude the things in the world that bring us joy.
  • Do something everyday that brings you joy. On days when you’re feeling lousy and life feels hopeless or difficult, find at least two things to remind you that joy exists all around you and let that experience be your oasis.


What is HBLU ™ ?
HBLU ™is an innovative, rapid, and powerful new mind/body/spirit healing methodology developed by Judith A. Swack, Ph.D., a Biochemist/Immunologist, Master NLP Practitioner, Mind/Body Healer, and leader in the field of Energy Psychology. HBLUTM integrates biomedical science, psychology, hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming, applied kinesiology, and other energy psychology techniques with original research on the structure of complex damage patterns. HBLUTM is so effective because:


  1. The client’s deepest wisdom guides the healing,
  2. It has menus of well characterized patterns and effective healing techniques,
  3. It clears blocks to success at the conscious, unconscious, body, and soul levels.


HBLU ™ helps people rapidly achieve the results they want to live full, happy, healthy, and satisfying lives. Maybe it can help you, too.

Dr. Swack and her associates work with people in person or by phone. Healing from the Body Level Up, Inc. is located in Needham, MA. Call 781-444-6940 to book an appointment, order a free information package, and order audio and videotapes. Visit our website at www.HBLU.org.


Boston Women’s Journal April/May 2008

Hands cupped towards the sun in a cloudy, golden sky, evoking feelings of hope.

Bless Everyone

By Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. • December 2, 2025
Copyright 2013, revised 2025 Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. At the recent ACEP conference (May 2013) I ran into Jane, a woman who had attended my presentation at the Energy Psychology conference the previous October. There I had demonstrated an energy transmission technique that I called “The Look” in which someone remembers a traumatic emotion, locates that feeling in his/her body, and I look at it. About 10 seconds later, the feeling dissolves. At the end of that session, I transmitted that ability to anyone who wished to receive it.
Woman with curly hair in a red sweater hugging herself, eyes closed, against a blue background.

Successful Treatment of Physical Problems Starts with Acceptance

By Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. • September 29, 2025
Copyright 2014 revised 2025 Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. Three years ago, John’s blood sugar levels started to rise. Although John’s father and several other relatives had diabetes, John refused to believe he might really have a problem. Although his doctor had encouraged him to modify his diet and lose weight, John continued to eat whatever he wanted, not exercise, and stay fat. Now at age 52, his fasting blood sugar was 150 (normal is 70-99). When I asked him if he knew that he had diabetes, he told me that there was controversy over whether or not fasting blood glucose was a legitimate test for diabetes, and the medical establishment was now considering the A1C measurement as more accurate. So John got an A1C test, which also showed he was diabetic.

Open Does Not Mean Vulnerable

By Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. • August 26, 2025
Copyright 2025 Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. Jane was dating two men at once and having trouble deciding who to choose. She listed all of John’s wonderful qualities and all of Steven’s wonderful qualities and remarked, “If I could just put the two of them together I’d have the perfect man.” When asked why she didn’t just date one man who had everything, she said she was keeping one man as a backup because she didn’t feel safe with either one of them. Puzzled, I asked, “Why would you date, let alone marry, anyone you didn’t feel safe with? Clearly, you’ll never marry either of these men.” Jane simply looked astonished. Love is a beautiful thing. We all need to love and be loved. Sadly, many of us have been hurt by the people we love and who are supposed to love us. When that happens, we no longer feel safe, and we shut down the ability to give and receive love. The tragedy is that we can no longer feel loved or experience ourselves as loving beings. We no longer experience the nourishing flow of warm golden buttery energy that uplifts the heart/soul, connects us all, and soothes all pain. And everyone else we could be loving is robbed. According to the dictionary, the word “vulnerable” means open to attack. When someone says, “I’m afraid to be vulnerable” he/she should be afraid to be vulnerable, but he/she should not be afraid to be emotionally open, emotionally present, or emotionally close. Opening to give and receive love should not make one vulnerable. So what to do about it? With HBLU we acknowledge the fear and heal the traumas, dysfunctional family system and cultural brainwashing patterns that caused it. This allows people to reach out with their hearts and share one of the greatest gifts in life. If you or anyone you know would like to open your heart to love, get happily married, or improve your marriage or other relationships, HBLU methodology can help you. If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, please call 781-444-6940 , email info@hblu.org , or go to www.hblu.org . Blessings, Judith