Leaving China was not a simple decision for Joy. Hear the raw story of her visa rejection, a difficult marriage, and starting over.

This conversation explores the reality of leaving China when life hits a breaking point. If you have ever felt stuck in an isolating environment, this story offers a candid look at the process of choosing yourself over a difficult situation. We discuss the emotional weight of visa rejection and the practical steps required to rebuild your life from scratch.

Joy shares the specific moment she realized that starting over was the only option left. This discussion is for anyone navigating major life changes or struggling to break free from circumstances that no longer serve them. By detailing her journey, Joy highlights the persistence needed when facing systemic and personal obstacles.

In this episode:

- The three-day decision that changed Joy's life
- What she did after the American embassy said no
- The slow erosion of an isolating marriage, and the floor moment that ended it
- How a professor's belief changed the course of her education
- Why escaping circumstances is only the beginning of freedom
- What she would tell her younger self, crying on that floor

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

1:26 Welcome and introductions

5:26 Growing up in Beijing and the pressure to conform

11:18 Who Joy was before the pivotal moment

17:27 The three-day decision to leave China

24:17 Visa rejection and what she did next

37:31 Landing in America

39:23 The marriage, the isolation, and the floor moment

46:18 Building a life from what remained

56:54 Writing Tiger of Beijing

1:02:12 What she would tell her younger self

1:09:31 How to find Joy

Connect with Joy:

Website: https://joykongmd.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_joy_kong/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-kong-md-4b8627123/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCZj1GQBWFM5sRAL0iQfcMAQ

Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/s5e264

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Newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

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