Part 12: The Risks and Rewards of Visible Joy

Welcome to The Everyday Science of Joy, a 13-part series for educators and caregivers brought to you by the ESSDACK Resilience Team and inspired by the work of Ingrid Fetell Lee around The Science of Joy. We’re diving into what brain science tells us about joy: why it matters, how it shapes our nervous systems, and how we can design classrooms, homes, and communities that help people truly thrive.

Each post, we’ll explore one joyful concept and connect it to practical, brain-based strategies you can use right away. Think of this series as a little dose of inspiration and science, wrapped up with curiosity, compassion, and maybe even a laugh or two because joy is serious business (and seriously good for us)!

Let’s be honest, being visibly joyful in professional spaces can feel a little risky. The world often tells educators and caregivers to stay serious, to appear composed, efficient, and always “on task.”. Smiling too much? You might be called naïve. Wearing bright colors or using playful language? You risk being dismissed as “unprofessional.” But here’s the thing: visible joy isn’t childish. It’s courageous leadership.

When you allow others to see your genuine delight, laughter, curiosity, or creativity, you’re giving silent permission for them to do the same. Your nervous system is saying to theirs, “It’s safe to be here. You don’t have to hide.” That’s science. Joy activates the brain’s social engagement system, releasing oxytocin and helping people shift from defense to connection. And in schools, homes, and learning centers, that’s exactly the state where growth happens.

In the ESSDACK Resilience framework, we often talk about how regulation is contagious… and so is joy. When a teacher hums while setting up a lesson, when a site director greets learners with genuine warmth, when a parent dances in the kitchen with their child, they are transmitting safety through visible joy. It’s nervous system co-regulation at work.

Still, we know there are risks. Joy can be misunderstood. Others may perceive it as superficial or “out of touch” in the midst of serious challenges. That’s why it takes courage to show it. But visible joy doesn’t deny reality. It transforms it. It says, “Even here, we can hold both the hard and the hopeful.” True joy doesn’t cancel gravity; it gives us buoyancy.

Educators and caregivers who model authentic joy show their communities that regulation and resilience can sparkle. You can still hold high expectations, navigate trauma-informed work, and advocate for equity with joy as your companion.

So go ahead! Wear the bright sneakers, bring the music, tell the funny story, hang that student-made rainbow. Let your visible joy challenge the myth that professionalism requires gray tones and quiet faces. When we lead with light, others remember their own.

✨ Joy Practice Challenge: Choose one joyful expression to bring into your work or caregiving space this week: colorful pens, laughter, music, stickers, plants, or even a playful greeting. Notice who smiles, who softens, who joins you. Joy shared is safety multiplied.