When was the last time you felt pure joy? That joy you felt so often as a child engaging in exciting activities. As we grow up, we tend to lose, or rather suppress, this inner child. We get busy with work, responsibilities, conflict, family, chores, overthinking, and pretty much everything else life presents to us. We get caught up and stop making time for the things that bring us that intense joy – the physical sensation we knew all too well when we were children. Many times, it happens that we don’t even know what brings us this joy anymore.
According to Oxford Companion to Emotion and the Affective Sciences, repeated experiences of joy build people’s resources for survival. Colours seem more vivid, physical movements become more fluid, smiles become difficult to suppress. Joy also broadens attention and thinking which in turn supports the “do anything” action associated with the emotion.
The study of joy is still in its infancy although some conclusions can be drawn from what is known:
- Joy is caused by a distinct pattern of thinking – people experience joy when connected to something or someone important.
- Joy predicts increased happiness over time.
- Gratitude and joy support each other in cycles that enhances well-being.
- Joy seems to be essential for the “good life” (more about this here).