Photo By Sonya Prather
When Boca Raton resident Lisa McCourt discovered the writings of self-help author Wayne Dyer at age 14, it set her on a path that changed the course of her life. She’s learned to live in a state of joy aligned with her “true inner being,” she reveals in her new book,
“Free Your Joy: The Twelve Keys to Sustainable Happiness.”
McCourt, 59, shares her formula for happiness in “Free Your Joy,” which is the culmination of 20 years of teachings from her online Joy School. She calls on her readers to change, what she refers to their “vibrational address” to attract joy and abundance into their lives through practices derived from the wisdom of ancient traditions and the science of positive psychology.
The author, podcaster and teacher was born in Jacksonville, but raised in the Northeast. After graduating from Drew University in New Jersey, she began an MFA degree at Vermont College of Fine Arts but left to switch gears to personal growth writing and ghostwriting.
The message of joy and validation runs through another of McCourt’s creative endeavors. She began a series of “Stinky Face” children’s books about a mother’s unconditional love with the publication of “I Love You Stinky Face” in 1997.
That message of love and acceptance grounds her own family. Her daughter Thalia, 25, who is transgender, came out at age 22. She recently moved to New York City. “Florida was a very unfriendly place for her,” says McCourt.
Daughter Katy, 21, is at the University of Florida studying to become a physician’s assistant.
McCourt lives in Boca Greens with her husband David, whose field is rocket engine design. She puts her compassion into action as president of the Broward Chapter of PFLAG, a national organization that supports, educates and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. She sings with the Agape Global Choir, part of a spiritual community based in California, believing that singing can be “super healing.” The author also hosts her “Do Joy!” podcast, teaches her online school and leads retreats, including one to be held in Boca Raton in the coming months.
“Everybody would like more joy in their lives,” says McCourt. “The obstacle is that most people do not believe that their level of joy and happiness is within their control. They think they are at the mercy of external conditions.”