ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that the emotion of joy is uniquely able to modify the impact of all the negative emotions. G. Heisterkamp defined joy in contrast to anxiety. "Joy can be considered as a basic form of resonance. Psychodynamically, joy is complementary to the feeling of anxiety. Whereas anxiety reflects psychic distress in connection with problems of structuring, joy is the expression of successful restructuring. It is the feeling of self-discovery, of a new beginning, and of self-renewal". Moments of joy can lend colour to life. A paradox at the heart of joy is that, it can accompany both the finding of one's particular self and the loss of the boundaries of individual identity. Many widely available experiences may bring pleasure, but joy is nearer the soul.
