The idea that a culture of joy can lead to increased resilience for companies in 2023 is supported by recent research on neuroscience and the brain. Having a healthy joy center in the brain has numerous benefits, including better identity formation, improved resilience in the face of difficult times, increased brain strength, and the ability to borrow joy from others in times of grief, loss, and trauma. Joy is also contagious, allowing us to spread it to others and increase their levels of joy.
Research has found that when people are nurtured by their caregivers and experience regular joy, their emotional brain develops in a way that allows them to be comfortable with their own emotions and respond to their social environment in a healthy way (Schore, 2019).
Additionally, joy causes us to be more resilient and releases opiates that are necessary for feeling calm, safe, energized, elated, and many other positive emotional states, which help to boost our mood (Wilder, 2014).
A study conducted by the University of California found that positive emotions increase the brain’s resilience, allowing for better problem-solving and decision-making skills (Masten, 2014). Additionally, a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that people with positive emotions are more likely to persist and respond to challenges in difficult situations, resulting in improved performance and productivity (Foster, 2014).
