Joy becomes easier when embarrassment stops functioning like danger.

Embarrassment borrows the body’s alarm system. The flush, the tightened chest, the urge to leave the room feel exactly like danger, even though nothing is actually at risk except your image of yourself in someone else’s mind. As long as your nervous system keeps mistaking one for the other, you will edit joy down to whatever feels safe to be seen enjoying.

Start noticing the small moments where you dampen your own enthusiasm because someone might find it silly. Sing along, be visibly delighted, admit you love the obvious thing. The feeling of exposure will pass in about thirty seconds, and what remains is the pleasure you were about to give away.