Is Practicing Joy a Defense Mechanism

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 Happy Monday!

Is practicing joy a defense mechanism?

 

It's like asking: is practicing joy bad? Is it denial of reality? Is it being fake? Is it even healthy?

 

Oh how messed up have we been since Freud? 😂

 

Defense mechanisms by definition are thoughts or actions we do to defend ourselves (our psyche) from a reality that is too hard to face or accept.


Some common defense mechanisms are displacement, regression, rationalization, sublimation, intellectualization, and our favorite byword denial.


The foundation of all these, in my point of view, is unconscious reaction. Our reactions are compulsive because they are not consciously undertaken. In the end, they may be used indiscriminately and uncontrollably.


This leads me to the empowering concept of INTENTION.


Practicing joy is a decision. We own up to the fact that we would like to look at the brighter side of things without dismissing unpleasant realities. We consciously refuse to be pinned down by worries because we want to act on our fears instead of being curled up thinking what if. We keep a brave front for others to not lose heart, not to mask what we feel. We practice self-care not to soothe ourselves but to strengthen and recharge it to face another day.


There is no real joy if we rely on automatic reactions. When the adrenaline is over, and another chemical reaction kicks in, we lose the light, jovial feeling and we'd have no foundation to remain joyful.


Intention: taking control of how we face our challenges and being resolute that whatever is in our daily battles, we are BECOMING - and that in itself should spur joy. The joy of growth, the joy of empowerment, the joy of overcoming, the joy of triumph against our weaknesses.


A week of joyful becoming for all us, cheers! 🍷


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#joyinmetoday

 

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