It's OK to Feel Joy Right Now
Happy Spring! Well, it's now been a year since the COVID crisis and we went into lockdown. Many of us, myself included, have endured months of isolation, grief, and loss from the pandemic. So, it's normal to feel a sense of exhaustion and fatigue. In fact our brains evolved, as a strategy for survival, to abhor adversity and uncertainty. We crave safety, security, and stability -- all of which were undermined during the pandemic.
But with the arrival of spring and a renewed sense of hope on the horizon from more of us getting vaccinated, is it safe for us to start feeling happy and optimistic? Yes, it is!
As shared in this timely New York Times piece that I was recently interviewed for and mentioned in, it's OK to feel joy right now. As the article rightfully states:
"Spring is the season of optimism. With it comes more natural light and warm weather, both great mood boosters, and some of our most hopeful religious holidays: Easter, Passover, the Hindu festival of Holi and Nowruz, the Persian new year that celebrates springtime and renewal." It's precisely why more of us are really feeling genuinely joyous -- it's what your brain wants right now.
Spring is a season of renewal -- not just of warmer weather and longer days, but also a renewal of inspiration and joy. That said, for many, the mere thought of feeling joy may feel like a guilty pleasure or even difficult to fathom.
A mantra that I like to share: "Happiness isn't a promise; it's a practice." Enjoy learning more in the following article and enjoy these insights on why It's OK to Feel Joy Right Now.
Dr. Jay
"Your Happiness Professor"
FB/IG/TW @docjaykumar
Author, Science of a Happy Brain
Instructor, "Investing in Happiness" (GenConnectU online course)