Turning joy into foreboding to avoid a future feeling of loss.

Joy is a vulnerable feeling, so a lack of comfort with vulnerability can cause a rejection of joy. The defense here is the anticipation of future pain especially loss of the joy, whereby skipping the joy to avoid loss. Practicing gratitude is the best solution to this instinct.rB1

Teams need to intentionally celebrate small wins.


  1. Brené Brown, Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts (New York: Random House, 2018). (See notes.)