Embrace passions that fulfill a personal want, just for you, without guilt or shame. This can lead to unexpected positive life changes and personal growth by reconnecting you with your capacity for joy and self-knowledge.
Stay alert to any little spark of intrigue and fan its flame instead of shutting it down due to shame, embarrassment, or perceived unimportance. This allows for unbridled joy, play, and connection, leading to meaningful experiences.
Commit to a unique target of joy and unleash your inner geek, whether it’s a traditional interest or something entirely your own. This harnesses a psychological trick that boosts connection, presence, kindness, playfulness, and joy.
Give yourself complete permission to pursue your own happiness without guilt, recognizing that blocking personal joy due to feelings of shame or self-indulgence is counterproductive. You are entitled to your own happiness.
Be conscious of your interests and actively facilitate them in your life by carving out dedicated mental space for them. This practice helps you notice and nurture potential passions, leading to greater joy and self-discovery.
Allow yourself to love “trivial” things enthusiastically and non-judgmentally, even if they seem silly. This can open a doorway to remembering your capacity for joy, understanding what you truly want, and making life changes to achieve it.
Do a deep dive into any interest, whether it’s a traditional “geeky” one like Star Wars or a unique topic like sourdough bread or croquet. The specific subject is less important than the enthusiastic engagement, which yields significant happiness benefits.
Seek out and connect with like-minded people who share your fandom interests, whether online or in person. This generates incredible energy, provides a wonderful shared community experience, and combats feelings of isolation.
Actively think or write about beloved fictional characters or worlds. This practice can make you feel less lonely and boost your self-esteem, providing social benefits similar to real-world relationships through parasocial bonds.
Identify as a member of a fan group (e.g., Trekkie, Cumberbitch) to gain a sense of identity and belonging. This connection to a bigger collective can give you a sense of pride and boost your self-esteem.
Participate in imaginary play through activities like writing fan fiction or engaging in detailed daydreaming about characters and scenarios. This is a form of play, a known stress reducer, and can boost happiness.
Attend fan gatherings like conventions (“cons”) to experience a shared pretensive reality. This is an adult version of happiness-boosting flow, allowing you to joke, socialize, make-believe, and create together.
Express your fandom openly in daily life, such as displaying memorabilia at your desk at work or wearing fan-related items. This can lead to unexpected positive social interactions, as people are often grateful for something to talk about.
Participate in pro-social behaviors within fan communities, such as being kind and generous to fellow fans. These actions are known to boost your mood and strengthen community bonds.