Not so long ago, I was sitting in my favourite sunny corner of my home office. My dogs Robbie and Ritta were snoring at my feet, and while I enjoyed my cold cup of organic coffee (yes, I like it cold), I asked myself: What do I really want more of in my life right now?
The answer came quickly, almost like someone whispered it to me:
More joy. More freedom. More flow.
During the past two decades, I have worn so many hats – film producer, brand strategist, coach, therapist, workshop creator, mentor, and more others. Each chapter brought me growth and made me deeper person, but now I feel need to simplify.
To respect my energy.
To create something more sustainable – something supporting my values, my creativity, and of course, our bank accounts – mine and my family’s…
But without sacrificing things that matter most for me.
Because what I would really love more of is:
Traveling for fun, visiting my small granddaughters or leading international retreats.
Cooking slowly and beautifully, not rushing. Supporting my teenage homeschooled son in way that feels enriching, with deeper connection.
Having more playtime with my dogs and enjoying spacious calendar, with appointments with only my VIP clients, committed to doing the inner work or building their business.
So this blog — Thrive with Joy — was born from that intention.
Why I chose this path (and why it might work for you, too)
Instead of burning myself out with launching offers or free events, I am now building something lighter, more aligned with who I am:
A cozy corner on the internet, filled with stories, tips, and beautiful discoveries.
Income streams that flow in the background – mostly through digital courses and affiliate links for products I use or I truly believe in.
Time to write, create, and connect in nourishing ways.
This isn’t a blog about blogging.
It’s a blog about living – with intention, ease, and a little bit of sparkle.
(Which aligns better with me – after all, my name means “spark” in Bulgarian and several other Slavic languages.)
It is also a living experiment in making money while doing what I love — without hustle.
That means I will openly share tools, services, and small wins that support this journey — like:
- Hostinger — the super easy and affordable platform I’m using to run this site.
- Omnisend – my newest discovery, for creating the contact and subscription forms
- My favourite tools to set up an online business in 2025
- And few more creative ways I’m building impact and income without burning out, like the $10 club. I will talk more extensively about it as it’s model benefits on several levels – health, wealth, and self-empowerment.
If you are someone who is rethinking your pace…
If you, like me, have been wanting more flexibility, simplicity, and time to just be…
Then this space is for you.
Do you want to build alongside me?
I will document the journey here – not just the successes, but also the messy middle parts, too.
If you would like a simple PDF with the first steps I’ve taken – from choosing the right tools to getting my first blog post live (it took me two days) – I am working on it as you read.
It is a short, simple, and made for real life checklist. Without unnecessary details, to prevent you from overwhelming.
You can sign up for the blog to receive the notifications as soon as I publish it.
If you are still reading, I know you are curious, inspired, or quietly sitting and cheering me from the sidelines – honestly, I am so happy you are here.
Here’s to joy. Here’s to thriving.
And here’s to building something beautiful, together.
— Iskra 💛