How joy and confidence go hand in hand

When you feel joyful, it often leads to increased confidence, and when you're confident, it can enhance your capacity to experience joy. But why?

According to Barbara Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory, positive emotions have two primary effects:

Broadening Effect: Positive emotions, such as joy, expand the range of thoughts, behaviours, and actions that individuals are likely to engage in. We may become more open to new experiences, more flexible in our thinking, and more likely to explore our environment.

Building Effect: Over time. positive emotions build an individual's personal resources. These resources can be psychological, social, or physical in nature: everything from self-confidence and creativity, to social support networks and positive relationships, to physical health and well-being.

The theory proposes that the broadening effect of positive emotions such as joy enables individuals to accumulate these personal resources, which, in turn, contribute to long-term psychological well-being. For example, joy may lead to increased exploration and learning, which can enhance cognitive and social skills.

Fredrickson's research has shown that positive emotions not only feel good in the moment but also have important long-term benefits. They can improve psychological resilience, boost overall well-being, and enhance various aspects of functioning, such as cognitive abilities and interpersonal relationships.

But, while joy can boost confidence, confidence itself can also contribute to experiencing joy. When you believe in your abilities and have confidence in yourself, you're more likely to take risks, try new things, and pursue opportunities that can lead to joyful experiences.