The Power In A Smile: Josie Balka On Resilience, Self-Doubt … & Showing Up Anyway (Win!)

What if something as simple as a smile could be a quiet act of strength? For Josie Balka, that idea is at the heart of her latest collaboration with Colgate—a campaign that reframes everyday moments as powerful rituals of resilience. As Millennial caregivers navigate the pressure of always being “on,” Balka’s signature storytelling offers a softer, more honest perspective on self-worth, self-care, and finding strength in the small things. We caught up with her to talk poetry, perseverance, and why your smile might mean more than you think. —Noa Nichol

The Resilience Connection: Your partnership with Colgate explores the profound, often overlooked link between resilience and the simple act of a smile. In your signature emotional storytelling, how do you define the “strength” behind a smile when facing the self-doubt that so many Millennials experience?

There are so many times in life that smiling comes easily and effortlessly, but it’s the times when there is a ton of strength powering that smile that matters the most. The days you showed up anyway, even when it took every little bit of fight you had in you to get out the door in the first place. Rewarding yourself with a smile really makes all the difference. Most millennials I know deal with constant self-doubt, and the strength is in continuing your day, doing your job, being there for people, taking care of yourself, all while that doubt is trying to cast its shadow over you. The strength is in stepping away from that shadow again and again to try and find the light.

The “Crushing” Reality: New proprietary research by Colgate shows that 74% of Millennials feel a crushing demand to be “on” all the time. As a celebrated Canadian voiceover creator, how did you use your poem [Your Smile Is Your Strength] to address this pressure and encourage caregivers to recognize their own efforts?

The feeling of always needing to be “on” is a very real thing that pretty much everyone I know deals with. It’s always wild to me when you find out about how much the people you love struggled, after the fact. I would never have even noticed if they hadn’t told me. That’s how good our generation is at being ‘on’. You can even trick your closest people. And for caregivers especially, there’s this added layer where you’re constantly showing up for other people, often without any real recognition, or opportunity to ever admit that it has been a challenge. So the goal with this campaign was to turn the spotlight back on them for a second and shed light on how special it is to be able to do what they do.

Routine as Ritual: You’ve spoken about transforming small daily routines into potent rituals of empowerment. How can something as fundamental as a morning oral care routine serve as a moment of self-compassion and a “pause” for reflection in a busy day?

I think it’s really about slowing down in specific moments. Most of us rush through things like brushing our teeth without even thinking. Always in fight or flight mode, and always in a rush. It’s just another task among a million other things. But if your whole day feels nonstop, you can designate moments where you do slow down, take a breath, and stop rushing for once. It’s one of the only moments where no one needs anything from you. You’re doing something for you for once. It’s nice to be able to have those quick check-ins. So you can pull yourself out of autopilot, and take a moment to acknowledge everything you do with a smile.

The Voice of Strength: Your poem voiceovers on Instagram and TikTok have resonated deeply with audiences. What was the specific inspiration behind the words you chose for the Colgate “Your Smile Is Your Strength” campaign, and how do they mirror the themes of your New York Times bestselling book?

My favorite way to write is in a way that never makes you wonder what it means. So many things in life are hard to understand, and I like to write poetry that is easily digestible and universally relatable. I wanted the poem for this campaign to be so simply put that everyone who puts a smile on for others all the time, finally feels seen.

The Millennial Caregiver: This campaign specifically spotlights Millennial caregivers who often juggle the needs of others while battling their own inner critics. What is the one piece of advice you hope these individuals take away from your collaboration with Colgate?

I want anyone who dedicates most of their time to caring for others to know without a doubt that the way they show up counts, even if no one has said it to them recently, or at all. Someone sees you, and the world is a better place because of the way you show up and acknowledge everything you do with a smile.

Inner vs. Outer Strength: A smile is often seen as an external gesture, but this campaign focuses on “inner strength”. How does your work help people bridge that gap, ensuring a smile is an authentic reflection of self-confidence rather than just a mask?

I think it’s very easy for people, especially millennials, to put on a smile so frequently that it almost becomes numb. You forget it’s there like a wedding ring, or something you very rarely take off. Smiling too easily becomes something you put on rather than something you really feel. My hope with my writing is to remind people that there are reasons to smile other than just ‘seeming’ like you’re okay.

The Path Ahead: How has this partnership influenced your creative process as you continue to explore themes of resilience and self-care in your upcoming work?

It honestly just helped me be more aware of what people deal with day to day. Specifically, hearing how many people feel like they have to be “on” all the time really stuck with me. I’m also about to become a mom for the first time, and I think resilience and self-care will become more important than ever before. You must show up for yourself before you can show up for anyone else, and this brought that to light for me. So now I’m carrying that forward with me.

Win! A $200 Colgate Optic White Self-Care Night Prize Pack!

Congrats Amanda C. of Mission, BC, who will receive a $200 Colgate Optic White Self-Care Night Prize Pack including:

• Colgate Optic White Renewal Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Topicals Under Eye Masks (6/pk)
• Grace & Stella Lip Masks (3/pk)
• Brookside Chocolates
• Squish Gummies
• Movie Style Popcorn
• Mark & Graham Lightweight Puffer Pouch branded with the Colgate Star

Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding. Full contest rules/regulations here.