Nadia Lim, 35

Celebrity chef and healthy-eating advocate

Ithink joy is something you learn to find in life, and I think you have to lose joy to be able to find it again. There was a point in my life a few years ago where I wasn’t loving what I was doing – I was under so much pressure to do it and it became a chore.

I wasn’t enjoying the very thing I had dreamed about doing for so long and was so lucky to have the opportunity to do. I realised I needed to take a bit of a break and not put myself under so much pressure. It was important to do it in a sustainable way and not burn out.

I’ve learnt I find joy in having a feeling of moving forward. I like change. OOnce I was very focused on the end ggoal and reaching the ‘peak of the mountamountain’, but I’ve found that the ‘hike’ aloalong the way is often the most enjoyabenjoyable part. I’m more comfortable now with taking small steps and enjoying the journey.

Some old wise dude I saw on TV when I was at university (I have no idea who he was) said you should learn somethingso every day. I really enjoy doing that, whetherwhethe it’s just a new fact or learning about somethingsomethin someone else does. Learning to dance on DancingwiththeStars brought me joy, and I totook an art class the other day. One of the best ways to perk yourself up, especially if you’re having a grumpgrumpy day, is to do a silly dance. I’ll make up a silly song and do a silly dance for Bodhi [three] and River [17 mmonths]. That is guaranteed to make me feel betterbetter! The kids start laughing, I start laughing ... and they eat their dinner!

My other little joy is having tiramisu and coffee for breakfast. I’ll mamake it for dessert with friends, but I always save a piecpiece for the next day. When I wake up, I literally jump oout of bed, super-excited to savour it with a little coffee for breakfast. Bliss!