The Happiness Paradox And Why Cheering for Rivals Improves Your Mood [35]

How do our elements of joy help us build this internal, infinite supply of joy that is within us? One reason is that we don't focus on happiness here at Joy Lab. Sounds wild, right? That's because of a little thing called the happiness paradox. Tune in for this episode as Aimee talks about this obstacle and how we use our elements of joy to overcome it. You'll also get a super simple and surprisingly effective strategy to boost your joy... and it involves reality tv and your least favorite sports team... enJOY! About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek.   The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab App.   Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).   Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app: Spotify | Apple | YouTube Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information.   If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org   Key Takeaways: Joy is not the same as happiness. It's also not the opposite of depression. Joy is a deeper state of being that we can build up and maintain all the time. Chasing happiness is a recipe for fatigue and frustration. The happiness paradox is a reminder that we can instead build our elements of joy to uncover the inner state that we're actually after, and that is natural to us. Have fun with your work... try the simple sympathetic joy practice Aimee suggests in this episode: Cheer for your rival sports team. Watch a competition show and cheer for everyone.    Links Mentioned: The paradox of pursuing happiness (Zerwas & Ford, 2021) Fronto-striatal activity predicts anhedonia and positive empathy subtypes (Mirabito, et al., 2019) [this is the study with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]