Joy, inspiration, and hope

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Also available in an open-access, full-text edition at http://txspace.tamu.edu/bitstream/han... “Emotion is an expression of the self,” Verena Kast writes in this ground-breaking study of the neglected emotions of joy, inspiration, and hope. Kast argues that to embrace our true selves, we must allow these emotions to flourish, encouraging us to laugh, cry, and express joy more freely. She highlights the importance of elated emotions, suggesting that both therapists and individuals pursuing personal growth should focus on joy, which has often been overshadowed by a preoccupation with grief, anxiety, and depression. Kast illustrates how joy fulfills our need for meaning and elation, a need frequently met in modern society through unhealthy substitutes like addiction. She delves into the Dionysian myth as a powerful symbol of ecstasy's transformative potential and examines Sisyphus as a representation of rejecting false hopes to embrace genuine joy rooted in trust. To help recapture joy, she proposes techniques such as developing an autobiography of joy, which enables individuals to identify what brings them joy and understand how they inhibit it. By recognizing joy, inspiration, and hope as essential emotions, we can achieve greater wholeness and a more fulfilling life.