Happiness that comes from within is joy

The joy arises from the depths of our hearts. It brings us tranquility, well-being and love. Nowadays it seems that one of our obligations is to be happy. The False joy, which we often use in the form of makeup, pushes us towards discomfort and the excessive emotional containment, in addition to blocking the true happiness. So… how to connect genuinely with this emotion?

Joy is a basic emotion

Joy is a basic emotion and, like the rest of the emotions, it has an adaptive function. It invites us to smile, to browse and explore our surroundings. Being happy gives us a feeling of expansion in the chest. Thus, it is possible that the associated physiological activation itself reinforces the feeling of smiling and sharing joy with others.

This emotion at the body level involves specific muscles that are automatically activated when we are happy. Joy favors balance between mind and body and allows us to recover from the stress of our daily lives. It is an expansive emotion that pushes us to raise the tone of our voice, in addition to making us feel physically lighter. Almost as much as the clouds.

Joy is expressed in the body

This emotion It manifests itself throughout the body, but especially in the face area, with the opening of the eyes and mouth, drawing a smile that can become laughter. The muscles of the chest, throat and vocal cords also expand, changes that enhance our well-being.

Researchers Ekman and Friesen distinguish 3 different types of joy. Authentic or felt joy, which arises naturally and spontaneously; false joy, where the expression does not correspond to the feeling; and, finally, cynical joy, where the expression of joy is manipulated to cover another emotion such as sadness, fear or anger.

Joy is not saying that everything is fine

There is a social consensus. When answering certain questions (“How are you?”, “How are you?”), we usually use a single word “good”, when in reality this is often not the case. It seems that there is an obligation to be constantly happy, or at least to keep us safe from giving explanations. It is very difficult for us to construct a story when the emotions that invade us are anger, sadness or fear.

Cooling down emotions that we may interpret as negative with distancing and dissociation creates a way of relating to emotions that also affects positive emotions. Think that by expressing emotions that are unpleasant to us we show ourselves vulnerable and that That vulnerability, if comforted, is in itself a source of joy..

Nor is it about forcing emotion as if it were a suit that is too small for us at that moment. In fact, Forcing emotion can make us feel even sadder, by increasing the feeling of feeling misunderstood. We put on a mask, but at the same time we can feel angry because “the world” is not able to see through that mask.

Keys to identifying authentic joy

How does the emotion of joy help our lives? Here I give some keys to identify it and thus be able to start putting it into practice.

Maintains balance and internal well-being: Psychological well-being can be related to emotions of joy and feelings of happiness. It occurs spontaneously: It is not a forced or planned feelingbut it arises in a natural and uncontrolled way. It pushes people to want to share with others and social cohesion.: It is a link between peoplehelping to create new relationships and fostering social unity. Provides internal peace: increases self-esteem and the self-confidence of each one by promoting positive feelings and thoughts.It is an energy that is in motion: If the energy is stagnant, it is not possible for us to feel any pleasant emotion, therefore, authentic joy comes and gives way to other emotions that need to be expressed (fear, anger, sadness, tranquility…).Allows you to start new projects: It provides the energy to move towards our goals.Allows you to get in touch with pleasant emotions: We often spend more time complaining about what we don’t have, instead of valuing what life gives us.

How to connect with your own happiness

Joy comes from within, it has nothing to do with the outside. It is rarely caused by others, but is entirely related to our internal thoughts and emotions. Happiness is related to “realization” and the awareness that we dedicate to the little things, not with our character exclusively.

Therefore, To connect with this emotion it is important that we practice “being present in everything we do.”, as well as, that we can experience the small pleasures of everyday life. Fostering tenderness and curiosity about ourselves makes it easier to access our interior and makes joy emerge spontaneously and expansively.

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