The Science (and Soul) of Anticipatory Joy: Why Looking Forward Can Heal Us
There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens when we allow ourselves to look forward to something. Not in the distracted, can’t-wait-for-this-meeting-to-end kind of way, but in a deeper, soul-nourishing, heart-expanding way.
This is anticipatory joy; the kind of joy that begins before the thing even arrives.
And science is finally catching up to what we’ve always felt: the looking forward is part of the healing.
What Is Anticipatory Joy?
Anticipatory joy is the emotion we feel when we imagine a positive future experience, something we’re excited about, inspired by, or longing for. It’s a powerful motivator, a natural mood booster, and an emotional anchor that helps us endure the hard stuff.
And here’s the beautiful part: you don’t even have to experience the thing for your brain and body to begin reaping the benefits.
Why Your Brain Loves Looking Forward
Neuroscience tells us that imagining future joyful events lights up the same reward pathways in the brain that activate when we’re actually experiencing the event.
When we picture something we’re excited about, whether it’s a walk in the woods, a retreat in Panama, or just a long soak in the tub, we engage the brain’s dopaminergic system. Dopamine, often thought of as the “feel-good” chemical, plays a key role in motivation, anticipation, and positive mood regulation.
Our brains also engage in value tagging, assigning emotional meaning to future images or experiences. The more vivid the image, the more the brain tags it as important. That’s why imagining yourself in the jungle with your feet in the warm sand actually makes you feel something. The more sensory the mental image, the more anchored it becomes in the body. This is what gives anticipatory joy its healing power.
How to Practice Anticipatory Joy in Daily Life
You don’t need to book a flight or clear your calendar to tap into this healing state. In fact, some of the most meaningful anticipatory joy practices begin right where you are.
1. Start Your Day with a “Joy Cue”
Before reaching for your phone, take 30 seconds to ask: What am I looking forward to today? It doesn’t have to be big. Let your body feel the warmth of that future moment now.
2. Use Imagery as Medicine
Close your eyes and visualize a future experience you’d love. Use all your senses. You’re not escaping reality, you’re giving your nervous system something to reach toward.
3. Create a Joy List
Make a running list of things you genuinely look forward to. Keep it visible. These cues help your brain stay future-oriented.
4. Value Tag Your Environment
Surround yourself with symbols of joy: objects, scents, textures, that help the brain hold onto hopeful imagery.
5. Make Room for the Sacred “In Between”
Countdowns matter. Mark your calendar for something meaningful. Let the anticipation be part of the experience.
But What If You Want Something More?
If you're feeling the call for something deeper, something immersive, elemental, and infused with that jungle-meets-ocean kind of magic, I’d love to have you join me in Panama, March 2026.
It’s a place for breath, barefoot grounding, sound healing, and powerful reconnection with yourself and the earth. And the joy doesn’t begin when you get there, it starts the moment you say yes!
Because anticipatory joy is part of the transformation.
Your Invitation
Wherever you are, whether in your office, your kitchen, or scrolling in bed, I invite you to look forward. Choose something. Visualize it. Name it. Make space for it.
You deserve joy, not just in the future, but in the imagining of it.
Learn more about my Panama Retreat HERE!
Or reach out HERE and let me help you start small. Joy is a muscle. Let’s strengthen it together.
With roots in realness,
Karin
