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- [00:00]
Gemma Speck
I'm Gemma Speck, the host of the
- [00:01]
Anna Sinfield
psychology of your 20s.
- [00:03]
Gemma Speck
Have you ever been at the pharmacy counter and your mind goes blank when the pharmacist asks any questions? That is why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast answers the questions you'd wished you'd asked, like which meds may not work well together, what vaccines you might need before a holiday, and even some of the questions you're too embarrassed to say out loud. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:37]
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- [01:15]
Lily Herman
iOS mobile app Ready for a different take on Formula One? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid, the story of the sport's most consequential driver strike, and plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:47]
Gemma Speck
Before all of the algorithm fed Bilar and the endless sea of dupes, shopping used to feel more fun. But here's a confession Podlings. You can find that fun feeling again all on ebay. It's not mindless scrolling, it's a fashion pursuit. I recently found a dress I had
- [02:01]
Anna Sinfield
been looking for since I was probably 19 that I saw on a show
- [02:05]
Gemma Speck
many moons ago, and the feeling was exhilarating. There's always more to discover on ebay. Ebay has millions of pre loved finds from hundreds of brands backed by ebay.
- [02:15]
Anna Sinfield
Authenticity guarantee eBay things people love on
- [02:21]
Ella (Adventures of Curiosity Cove)
the adventures of Curiosity Cove Podcast. What if the right fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right Fit, Ella explores movement, confidence and belonging and learns that not all strength looks the same. This Women's History Month story introduces kids to women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. Listen to adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:55]
Gemma Speck
Hello everybody. I'm Gemma Spike and welcome back to the Psychology of youf 20s, the podcast where we talk through the biggest changes, moments and transitions of our 20s and what they mean for our psychology.
- [03:15]
Anna Sinfield
Hello everybody. Welcome back to the show. Welcome back to the podcast. It is so great to have you here back for another episode as we of course break down the Psychology of our twenties. If you could not tell from my little get up today, I have my tiara on, I have my magic sparkling wand. We are talking about the psychology of whimsy and why whimsy is so uniquely powerful. Side note, I'm also recording this episode on Friday the 13th and so I feel like I need this kind of glittery, glowy princess energy to ward off the evil spirits. The reason I really wanted to do this episode and I'm now I'm debating whether I keep holding my wand or whether I throw it away. I'm going to keep it for the intro and then I'm going to toss it aside. But the reason I wanted to do this episode is because people often dismiss the silly little things we do to keep our joy alive in life as immature. You know, the trinkets that we collect, the games that we play, the silly scenarios or like dress up situations that we, we encourage me love to do. People label them as very childlike and unintelligent and yeah, they don't give them the time of day that they deserve. What these people don't know and what you are about to is that having whimsy in your life is likely going to make you smarter, more emotionally intelligent, more mentally adjusted, more mentally flexible and a whole lot better, happier. There is so much neuroscience behind the power of play, the power of imagination, the power of creativity and silliness. And today I'm going to share it with you guys, including everything from major peer reviewed studies from the likes of Stanford and Harvard on the power of whimsy to listen to stories about what we all do, what I do, what you guys do to keep your life light and fluffy in what are very hard times. Side note, thank you to everyone who did send those in. I genuinely got thousands of whimsical activity examples that I had never thought of before. So stick around to the second half of the episode where we talk about those. But I'm so excited to get into this. I'm sure we've all seen whimsy trending online recently, and maybe we're quick to dismiss it, but this is the episode where we really get into the scientific evidence for why it is emotionally and psychologically protective. So without further ado, let's get into it. Okay, now that we've done with the intro, I'm gonna throw my wand aside, but I'm gonna keep my for those watching on Netflix, I'm gonna keep my little my little tiara on because I feel like it's appropriate. But like I said before, whimsy. Whimsy is one of those things that you. You know when you see it, but you especially know it when you feel it, because it's just so light and playful and there is a part of you that really can tap into it and feels differently. The best description of whimsy that I've ever seen came from a therapist in Colorado whose name I am forgetting in this very moment. But what she basically said was that whimsy is playfulness deliberately woven into the ordinary. And I think that is the best description I could come up with, or she could come up with. It is doing things just for the sake of doing them, because they are strange, because they are humorous, because they are fun and nostalgic. And a core part of this is that they don't have to serve any other purpose, right? They don't have to be productive. It is why we like to blow bubbles as you walk down the street or collect trinkets. It's playing dress ups, it's dancing in the woods, it's using the good candle that you normally save. It's like baking a chocolate cake just because you felt like it, just because it brings you joy. What's interesting to me, actually, as a little sidebar, is how feminized whimsy really is. A lot of what we see as whimsical, I've started to realize, is just domestic tasks or domestic activities like that are solely reserved for women now being reclaimed as fun for women, like baking, frolicking, dressing up, collecting. You know, another huge part of whimsy is it's very childlike, right? It's very nostalgic, which we're going to get into a lot more later on. But whimsy and the way that it's now nowadays portrayed, it's not just reserved for one gender or indeed just for children. And I fear that some of the framing that's taking place, especially online, might exclude a lot of people who could genuinely use its psychological benefits. Whimsy can also be more traditionally masculine as well. Adventure building, something by hand that you could probably go out and buy that would be better. And indeed also frolicking, also cooking, also dancing and being present. Whimsy is for everyone because it's truly about returning to this very core, gooey, gentler part of yourself that has been, not to sound severe, but like, kind of lost to the grief of growing up and seeing how harsh the world can really be. I think this is why we are seeing such like a reclamation or a resurgence of whimsy, especially in recent years, almost as like a psychological and mental protest of the equally pressing trends of like the 5am morning routines and productivity planners and hustling and ambition blocked days and 10 leaders of water, 10,000 steps, 10 squeezes of a lemon at 10am 10,000 of hours of habits and discipline. Like, whimsy is the antithesis of all this. And people are getting sick of feeling like their lives need to be so structured and organized and perfect. And it's kind of this completely contradictory attitude that says let's not look for ways to be more productive. Let's actually not look for purpose in everything we do. Let's just exist and appreciate how special, special and silly life really is for no other reason other than that we can. Obviously people have then realized they could make a lot of money off that feeling, as they can make money off of any human feeling these days. And that has definitely branched off into a few big trends that we've seen come and go in the past few years that are a direct response to, you know, our need for more whimsy. But it's just been packaged by people who can make money off of it. So, like, the biggest and most obvious one was cottage core, right? The idea, slow living and collecting produce and dressing cute and in flowy skirts and floral patterns and having the gingham bed sheets. Then brands like Sheen and Amazon marketed that for us and made the cute strawberry dresses and made like the sticker books and made like all that stuff. Another one was Fairycore. There was definitely this whole, I think it's kind of still ongoing of people like playing dress ups and I guess I'm wearing a little crown right now, people wearing crowns. And now I think the next iteration of that and don't hate me for saying this, but I think the resurgence of analog activities and arts and crafts and snail mail and junk journaling, that is the next whimsy trend. That is the next way that we are trying to adopt more whimsy into our lives. And I really hope it lasts. Like, I so hope that this is the trend, the whimsy trend that sticks and won't just produce more landfill. Because like I said, whimsy and activities like this, ones that serve no purpose other than joy, are really important, especially in this day and age, hence why they're trending. You know, a core part of why whimsy is so great is that it's choosing to focus on the good, right? Particularly what feels nice and light and enjoyable for the mind and for the soul. There's this core cognitive psychology principle that what you choose to focus on expands and dominates your mindset. And what you don't focus on, you know, hopefully doesn't have as much of a say on your mindset and doesn't hurt you as much. Right now, the world is a pretty despicable place, and sometimes that's all we can focus on. And that's the only thing we can pay attention to. And if that is the only thing you can pay attention to, you could very easily become convinced that this is the one thing that the world is. The world is just terrible, like in its singularity. The world is just cruel. The world is just evil. Life is only about struggle. And life is only hard because that's what's really being pushed into our face. And also not push, like just looking around anywhere. You don't have to search for how terrible things are. And that, like, the deep psychological pessimism that this creates can actually increase our sense of powerlessness because everything we're facing feels totally immovable. No human mind, no human soul can survive in a mental environment where they truly believe that the world is just truly evil and incapable of change. So making whimsy a spiritual and psychological practice for ourselves, that breaks that pessimism loop, even just occasionally, it diverts your attention to all the good that still exists. And we really need that more than ever. When we hear people say joy is resistance, right? This is what I always think of. Whimsy, joy. Those practices restock. They restock, like, your mental and emotional reserves so that you can go on, especially separately, if you're in your 20s. And it can quickly feel like during this decade, that life is just an endless to do list and you're really finally being exposed to, like, what true adulthood is. Like, and more and more people expect things from you. More and more tasks are required from you. There is no answer for anything. Everything is confusing. You have no idea what the next five years is going to be like. There's this real whiplash into adulthood that can be really hard. And having whimsy in those moments, as a lot of us are choosing to do and choosing to pursue, you know, something as simple as putting a ribbon on your back or putting a cute
- [14:09]
Gemma Speck
figurine on your windowsill for people to
- [14:11]
Anna Sinfield
enjoy, or like having a cupcake with lunch. That's not silly. That's really helpful in times when the world just constantly feels like it needs something from us. Part of this is also because whimsy allows you to stop taking certain things too seriously. And know that now, I'm not referring to global and political things, I'm talking about personal things. But when you have whimsy in your life, the miss train, the slow walker, like the rejection email from that job you applied for, we don't overinvest in it as much. And when our mind does overinvest in that stuff because there's nothing else to break up, just our sense of failure or frustration, we actually hinder our brain's ability to rewire itself when we only focus on the negative and the bad, that stunts our cognitive ability for transformation. Let's break into some neuroscience for a second to explain why this is. Starting with the most basic first principles. Your brain is constantly changing and constantly building new connections and different lobes and across different lobes and across different regions. A lot of people think of this as like electrical wiring or like your neurological wiring is like a bunch of roads or train lines or like a map, something like that. And it's much more like a forest, right? It's much more like a forest where seeds are planted. Thousands of seeds, thousands of thoughts a day, thousands of potential habits are planted, and only a couple hundred of saplings emerge. And then from those saplings, only a dozen or even less than that of, of those saplings turn into these big, strong pillars of your identity, these big, strong trees that make up your personality and make up your behavior. And the thing is, when you experience stress, when you see the world as dangerous, when you're overwhelmed, that forest that your brain wants to build and is constantly building day in and day out, a lot of those new structures can only get so big and tall. Your ability to develop new coping mechanisms, develop new behaviors, to change past behaviors, that growth is stunted. Your brain's ability to form new patterns is stunted because the external environment is hostile and it's scary. And so it becomes biologically harder to focus and form new patterns. This is simply because being in a state of stress or a state of real psychological negativity hijacks all of your resources, whilst also suppressing dendrite branching and neurogenesis, especially in this region called the hippocampus. That is the part that's basically called the learning center of the brain. Constant negativity and stress. It's not always our choice, but when you can shift your brain to being playful in those environments and during these years of your life, when things are just really intense, it's so helpful because you show your brain it's safe enough to prioritize more than just its stress response. And it's safe enough to prioritize things that aren't just negative. There's this incredible research paper that was published last year titled Playful Brains, which is such a cute name. And it essentially says, whimsy and play. Keep your brain young because these activities require continuous adaptation and exploration. Whimsy, like how I like to see it in this kind of framework, is like the rays of sunshine that pour down on your neural forest and make it flourish. It is. It is literally fertilizing the soil in which your brain can grow new connections. It's also a somatic strategy, right? We're boosting oxytocin, where it decreases cortisol. It's allowing your body and mind to shift from alert to safe and imaginative. And imagination. Imagination is another big concept that makes whimsy so special and psychologically powerful. I feel like so many of these words that we're using today are, like, so synonymous with childhood, right? Imagination, play, joy, like. And that's not an accident. When is your brain forming the most connections during childhood? When were you likely the most optimistic you've ever been in your life during childhood? When did you have the biggest dreams during childhood? A lot of this is because we had permission to have fun. And having fun is a big part of how we learn to emotionally regulate and how we learn to just learn and test our surroundings as much as that gets stripped from us in adulthood. Remember a few years ago, I don't know if I'm sure we all remember this, actually. Inner child healing was huge and the Internet was obsessed with it. And people would have a childhood picture of themselves up on the mirror and they would buy themselves the toys. The littlest pet shops are like the Beanie Babies from childhood, and they would rewatch movies from, from when they were a kid and there was such a resurgence of, like, Hannah Montana and, like, people wanting those remakes. I think that's still kind of ongoing now because it is so fantastic. But this is exactly what. This is the practice that we're getting at, right? This is the fundamental stuff that we're getting back. We're getting at. Childhood was the last time many of us felt like ourselves and felt good about the world. Getting back to that and also mending the that were left on that version of us that still show up today. That is what prompts a lot of healing. And whimsy is a direct path to doing that. There's another thing I said before that I just want to quickly circle back on before I move on. Play as a form of emotional regulation.
- [20:15]
Gemma Speck
Literally.
- [20:15]
Anna Sinfield
This may sound so weird, but whimsy is a form of emotional regulation. When you do arts and crafts, when you collect your little trinkets, you are essentially signaling to your brain, well, if I'm having fun, like, it can't be that serious, right? Like, genuinely. They've done studies on this in Germany, in Malaysia, in the US and play is essentially a signal to your nervous system that we are safe. And so it allows you to go from survival to engagement. So it's so important, like, don't let people make fun of you for this stuff. It is psychologically powerful for your nervous system and for your brain and every other system going on in your body. A couple of years ago, I got really into these adult coloring books. I feel like I talked about it on the show a bunch, but 30 minutes of that a night did more for me and my stress and my nervous system then I think most actual nervous system exercises that were given to me by a therapist. Now, that's not for everyone, but it worked for me. I really did reach, like, a flow state with this stuff. And I experienced this, like, level of peace that I never had before, all because I had these, like, pink and yellow and green markers. And I was able to switch my brain from hyper vigilance to creative engagement. And that was what really made me feel better. A lot of people experience something similar, I think, with like, knitting, painting, because that again, that creative activation. Sorry to, like, beat a horse dead. But, like, that creative activation unconsciously says to your brain, hey, you're okay. Like, why else would we be making art if we weren't okay on top of this? Some researchers even suggested that adult playfulness will make you more intelligent. People who are more playful in adulthood are smarter. A 2021 study published in the US actually looked at over 300 students and it measured both their emotional intelligence and how playful they were. And what the study revealed, unsurprisingly in their words, was that there was a strong positive connection between intelligence and the more playful you were or how fun seeking you were. So this is what we're seeing so far, right? This is the point we keep kind of coming back to. Whimsy isn't just silly, it is psychologically protective during hard times. It helps your brain stay in an active state of rewiring. It helps you to regulate your emotions better than I think most strategies we have as adults. And it may make you more intelligent. But there's just like so many wins to this that like we just cannot discount. And there is one final reason it's so powerful that I want to talk about as well. Before we get into how to make whimsy a habit, we're going to talk about that last significant reason after this short break, so stay with us.
- [23:31]
Gemma Speck
Before all of the algorithm fed Bilar and the endless sea of dupes, shopping used to feel more fun. But here's a confession Podlings. You can find that fun feeling again on ebay. Because on ebay it's not just shopping, it's a full on fashion pursuit. And when you find the thing that adrenaline hit is real. I recently found a dress I had
- [23:55]
Anna Sinfield
been looking for since I was 19.
- [23:57]
Gemma Speck
I saw it on a TV show and I swear it called out to
- [24:01]
Anna Sinfield
me and it has been something I
- [24:03]
Gemma Speck
have come back to time and time again.
- [24:04]
Anna Sinfield
I have searched everywhere and every single
- [24:07]
Gemma Speck
secondhand store until finally I found it in my size. On ebay. It's about the thrill of finding pieces just like that. And I want you to find pieces that feel like you as well. There's always more to discover. Ebay has millions of pre loved finds from hundreds of brands backed by ebay. Authenticity guarantee Ebay Things people love Nothing quite hits like a home cooked meal. And hellofresh makes it easier to do more of that this year with recipes that feel good and taste delicious night after night cooking for myself has become a practice. I am really trying to do more. And when you have over 100 recipes to choose from each week, meals which are easy to whip up, which taste delicious, that habit becomes easier. HelloFresh gives you so much variety with high protein recipes, mediterranean recipes, winter warmers all made with wholesome ingredients, and seasonal produce like juicy pears, apples, delicious seafood. When dinner tastes this good, nothing hits
- [25:15]
Anna Sinfield
quite like home cooking.
- [25:17]
Gemma Speck
Genuinely guys, I use hellofresh if you're busy.
- [25:20]
Anna Sinfield
If you want to cook more at home, you should too.
- [25:22]
Gemma Speck
Go to hellofresh.com gemma10fm to get 10 free meals plus a freeze filling knife that at $144.99 value on your third box offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as a discount on your first box. New subscribers only.
- [25:40]
Anna Sinfield
Varies by plan.
- [25:42]
Lily Herman
Ready for a different take on Formula 1? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid.
- [25:56]
Amanda Knox
Lewis Hamilton Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon Wouldn't you know it? Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon.
- [26:03]
Lily Herman
The story of the sport's most consequential driver Strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom and was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both?
- [26:20]
Anna Sinfield
He started getting all the this attention and he maybe started to think I'm
- [26:25]
Amanda Knox
bigger than this, I'm better.
- [26:27]
Lily Herman
And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [26:41]
Gemma Speck
I'm Gemma Spegg, the host of the
- [26:43]
Anna Sinfield
psychology of your 20s.
- [26:45]
Gemma Speck
Have you ever been at the pharmacy
- [26:47]
Anna Sinfield
counter and the pharmacist asks you do
- [26:49]
Gemma Speck
you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That is exactly why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jay Goodman, a board certified psychiatrist and health educator, this show takes you behind the counter to answer the questions you'd wish you'd asked, like what medications might not mix well, what vaccines should you consider before a big trip and and even those questions you're a little bit too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you real, trustworthy advice from the experts you see the most. Your neighborhood CVS pharmacist. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [27:46]
Jo Winterstein
Hi, this is Jo Winterstein, host of the Spirit Daughter Podcast where we talk about astrology, natal charts and how to step into your most vibrant life and I just sat down with a mini
- [27:57]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
driver, the Irish traveler said when I was 16. You're gonna have a terrible time with men.
- [28:02]
Jo Winterstein
Actor, storyteller and unapologetic Aquarian visionary. Aquarian is all about freedom loving and different perspectives and I find a lot of people with strong placements in Aquarius like are Misunderstood A Sun and Venus in Aquarius in her seventh house spark her unconventional approach to partnership.
- [28:22]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms on different houses, in different places, but just an embracing of the isness of it all.
- [28:31]
Jo Winterstein
If you're navigating your own transformation or just want to chart into how a leading artist integrates astrology, creativity and real life, this episode is a must. Listen Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcast.
- [28:52]
Anna Sinfield
The final reason I think that whimsy has some deep emotional power over us is because of how our brain responds to beauty. And so much of whimsy is, at the end of the day about creating beauty in like the most mundane stuff. Making art, making things pretty for no reason, buying flowers just because you want to, like bringing in color and all those kinds of stuff. It's just trying to make the world more beautiful and lovely. I read this phenomenal substack the other day by this writer who goes by Plum Pits, and it just stopped me in my tracks because she was talking about this and she was talking about this distinct field of research called neuro aesthetics, which essentially explains what we're talking about, right? How the brain reacts to beauty and how powerful that is. In the late 20th century, there was this one man in particular, this Turkish neurobiologist who is still alive today, and he became really fascinated with this. He was like, why do our brains, or how do our brains respond to beauty and in such a different way to how they respond to the rest of the world? And he started doing these very simple experiments to try and kind of figure out what was happening behind the scenes. These experiments were just so basic and so profound. He would essentially just show people different kinds of art and music and he would just look, using FMRIs and EEGs, he would just see how their brains responded, what parts of their brains were lighting up up, what parts of their brains weren't. He found that our response to beauty isn't sectioned, it's not singular. It activates almost every single region of the brain all at once. So yes, your sensory cortexes are obviously going to be involved the parts of your brain that are responsible for seeing and hearing and feeling are going to be involved. But then it was also the medial orbiofrontal cortex, which is involved in evaluating meaning and also chasing what feels good. That part of our brain was like on fire. And also the emotional parts of our brain, the emotional cause of our brain, which also influenced our nervous system response, showed a big reaction when we saw beauty, when we saw art, the emotional activation that beauty brings, that, that is why we feel emotional when we hear like wonderful music. That is why we like sometimes cry when we see art or like feel intense happiness, but also sadness when we see like a thousand year old church or we see the sun hitting the tulips that we got for 5.99 on the way home from work. Beauty elicits awe, it elicits wonder, it elicits gratitude. It will just make you cry from happiness and cry from just wonder. And that obviously has a neurobiological impact. There was one University of Michigan study that found that our appreciation for beauty in this way and our everyday, I don't know, our everyday preference for what looks lovely and pretty, when we experience more of that, that decreases inflammation, it reduces risk of depression, risk of diabetes, risk of cardiovascular disease. When people say, you know, art isn't important, or nature isn't important, or whatever other crap people say, like, I don't want to hear it because this is what the science says. This is what you need to remind them of practices and activities that bring the beauty of life to the surface and make things look pretty and aesthetic and lovely and which feel good to look at. That's life changing. That's not, that's not like a benign thing. That is truly powerful. And dare I say, I honestly think that whimsy and beauty are as spiritual in some ways as prayer or traditions or celebrations or repenting or sacrifice your body for whatever mysterious and wonderful reason wants you to experience more of this and it wants you to like. There is just such positive signs that this is an experience we should be chasing. And also just to add to that, I think this is something about whimsy we really need to concentrate on more so often if we want it to be like a lot of these examples are free or very affordable. And these days so much of what is meant to help us out mentally is very expensive. Therapy is very expensive. I genuinely, I think I pay my therapist £200 a session. That is an insane amount. Self care practices are very expensive, especially in the way that they're marketed to us. These Days. And whimsy, on the other hand, is a very affordable practice. And yes, it's currently being commercialized and it's being turned into products and into an aesthetic that you can buy. But being a little bit silly, leaving
- [34:02]
Gemma Speck
like a secret note in a library
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Anna Sinfield
book, painting rocks and leaving them for others to find. Random acts of kindness that costs you nothing if not very, very little. So if you want to fully capture the power of all of this whimsical, magical, wonderful thinking, let's talk about A, some fun examples of activities that you can do, and B, how to turn whimsy from something that you do occasionally into an actual habit. I had my own list of like, activities, whimsical activities, ready to go. And then I thought, actually, I'm going to ask you guys, hence why I have my phone. Let me make sure that's on silent. Since I'm in the studio, I always forget to do that. But when you guys sent me your responses, I just, I scrapped my list and I decided just to go with what you guys were saying because you guys gave me such creative, amazing ideas that you guys do. And I just not surprised because we have some very creative people who listen. But I want to read out some of these to you for inspiration if you're thinking about whimsy and like, come kind of coming up blank. Okay, if you're ready, here we go. This first one comes from Jeannie, and this was one of my favorites. She says, I say hi and bye to my car whenever I drive him. Firstly, love that she said him. Like she's personalized, like personified him. That is so cute. There were surprisingly so many that were car related. People who would like, thank their car, people who would, like, decorate their cars. Very car focused whimsical activities on this list. This next one, I say thank you to my candles before I blow them out. I say a spell and I wish myself a good day. When I apply perfume in the morning, when I have to do my skin care, I apply my moisturizer or my sunscreen in a heart on my face. That is so cute. I'm gonna steal that one. I unbag my groceries like I'm filming a haul for my boyfriend, even though we just bought them all together. Cute. I have a monthly newsletter with my best friend called the Whimsy Sisters. That one's from Maya. Maya, that is a great idea. Honestly, if any of my friends are listening to this. Emma, Kate, Sarah, I'm thinking about you guys. I feel like this is a great idea. A whimsy newsletter or a monthly newsletter. Sorry, Maya, we're going to steal your whimsy sister's name for like, your long distance friends would be just such a great way of staying in touch. This next one as well, I just thought was so genius. Is genius the right word? I think genius is the right word. I put fun sprinkles in my oatmeal and yogurt bowls to add a bit of whimsy to my morning. How have I never thought about that? Like, that's such a great idea. I leave notes on napkins at restaurants and cafes when the service was really good. I talk to my plants and I tell them that I love them when I water them. That is so special. I drink any drink I want in a wine glass, milk, Diet coke, water, whatever. Because I can. I have a weekly fairy walk I go on where I pretend I'm a fairy observing the world for the first time. I twirl in circles, I spread some magic, and I pretend that I'm leaving a glitter trail wherever I go. This actually brings me to the story of why I have this wand. Because I did something similar the other day with my friend Jack. And if you follow me on Instagram, maybe you saw this reel. But both of us have been definitely feeling like, the sad, the seasonal affective disorder of the London winter, of the UK winter, especially coming from Australia. Like, I just don't think my body is built for this. But we went on this walk in Hampstead Heath and we were, as we were walking down from like the train station, there's this magic shop and we. I don't know why we walked in. It's like a puff, a puppet and a magic shop. And we walked in and they were selling these wands, that wand over there for like 5.99 or something. Not that expensive. And we just kind of looked at each other and we were like, we should just. We should just buy one of these and we should go for a little walk and we should spread some magic and. And we should. I don't know, we just were like running around the park, honestly, slipping in a lot of the mud and just like spreading magic. And anytime, like, it was quite funny. Like, obviously we were like making little noises and, like waving this big magic stick around. And there's like a bunch of dogs there. And all the dogs were kind of going, like a little bit crazy for it. I think they probably didn't realize. They just thought we were weird, which makes sense, right? Or they thought we were, like, trying to play, like, fetch with Them. And it was just the most magical day I've had in a while. I genuinely felt like I was glowing for the rest of the afternoon. Like vibrationally, emotionally. It was like I had done some like energetic cleanse or like some mental detox. I just felt phenomenal. And part of that is what's inspired this episode, right? Thinking about why I felt that great and why there must be some kind of science to to the transformation it kind of gave me, even just for a day. And that's the other thing with whimsy, right? You can either ritualize it or you can just use it as like a spontaneous mood. Pick me up. There is definitely evidence though, as much as like those one off things are amazing, the more you ritualize your whimsy, the better. As long as it's not like too burdensome. I know this may sound very like contra to what we've been discussing this whole time. You know, whimsy is meant to be spontaneous and sporadic and playful. That's like the whole nature of this. But what I mean by ritualizing whimsy is that making it a daily or a weekly priority rather than something you just do when like you just feel really crap, is going to bring about a lot more of those mental and emotional results. Tying your whimsy, especially to something you do every day, like that perfume example, or the moisturizer example, or the glass example, that increases how easily you're going to be able to see whimsy and happiness and joy everywhere else. And I think it will also increase like the long term positive dose that your brain and your body will get from, you know, the psychological power of whimsy. Making it a daily practice. The way that you make exercise a daily practice or you make hygiene or sleep a daily practice is something we could definitely all benefit from, especially in this day and age. I would also say remind yourself that most whimsy should cost you nothing. That's what I really liked about a lot of those examples people sent in. I kind of keep returning to this, but you don't need the $200 art kit and you don't need to host like an expensive themed dress up night or whatever else to feel the positive effects. There is no hierarchy. There is no kind of the more money you spend on whimsy, the better. In fact, a lot of research says that the most organic and rudimentary forms of play, the better the joy is, the deeper the joy is because it actually allows for more gratitude towards the ordinary rather than needing to do something extraordinary to feel Good. Basically, when you try to force whimsy, when you try to buy whimsy, you actually lose a fundamental part of it which is that it is about the mundane. It is about recognizing what is simply around you and making that special. The big events, the big shows, the parties, like that's actually, that's great and that's a lot of fun, but it's not what whimsy is, is about. And it does not, it does not make whimsy sustainable. Also, whilst I'm at it, another thing you can do to definitely like elevate your whimsy is, yeah, make it affordable and involve other people. This taps into something we know in developmental psychology as parallel play. When two people, often, in this case children, engage in playful activities side by side, it is really, really powerful and really, really healing. Going further and then involving somebody, not just doing it next to each other, but involving somebody in your stories and in your imagination. You know, both of you trying not to step on the cracks, both of you waving your wands around, both of you looking for the four leaf clover. Like whatever it is, whether it's your boyfriend, it's your friend, it's your siblings, that can literally be a form of co regulation. You know, we mentioned self regulation a lot at the beginning and how whimsy is an emotional regulator. But when you are with another person and you're feeling calm, you're feeling magical, you're feeling creative and playful, that internal mindset, that internal feeling, that's contagious. If you've ever heard of the term mirror neurons, which I'm sure you have at this point, especially if you're a psychology student, mirror neurons. This is exactly what is at play here. Mirror neurons are essentially the mind's social mirror. And specifically to kind of explain it more, it's why when you see someone else doing something or you see somebody else performing a behavior, or you see somebody else singing or whatever it is, a part of you automatically responds to them and wants to copy what that person is doing and wants to copy their behavior and get involved. I don't know, guys, I just. Whims, whimsy, because of that and how it activates mirror neurons and how it's contagious. I think that's why it's so life changing and why it could really change the world and make us all hopefully a happier species if we just like invited more people in because it's so organic and it's so like in our DNA to find purpose just in simple beauty and in the ordinary and I feel like a lot of technology and a lot of rapid advancements and a lot of what's going on in the world right now has made that feel very inaccessible.
- [44:33]
Gemma Speck
Before all of the algorithm fed bala and the endless sea of dupes, shopping used to feel more fun. But here's a confession, Podlings. You can find that fun feeling again on ebay. Because on ebay it's not just shopping, it's a full on fashion pursuit. And when you find the thing that adrenaline hit is real. I recently found a dress I had
- [44:57]
Anna Sinfield
been looking for since I was 19.
- [45:00]
Gemma Speck
I saw it on a TV show and I swear it called out to
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Anna Sinfield
me and it has been something I
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Gemma Speck
have come back to time and time again.
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Anna Sinfield
I have searched everywhere, every single secondhand
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Gemma Speck
store, until finally I found it in my size. On ebay, it's about the thrill of finding pieces just like that. And I want you to find pieces that feel like you as well. There's always more to discover. Ebay has millions of pre loved finds from hundreds of brands backed by ebay. Authenticity guaranteed. Ebay, things people love.
- [45:36]
Lily Herman
Ready for a different take on Formula one? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid.
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Amanda Knox
Lewis Hamilton, Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon. Wouldn't you know it, Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun Cancer movie.
- [45:57]
Lily Herman
The story of the sport's most consequential driver. Strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom and was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both?
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Anna Sinfield
He started getting all this attention and he maybe started to think, I'm bigger
- [46:19]
Amanda Knox
than this, I'm better.
- [46:21]
Lily Herman
And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and such sagas that have made Formula One a delightful decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [46:36]
Amanda Knox
In 2023, a story gripped the UK evoking horror and disbelief.
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Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
The nurse who should have been in charge of caring for tiny babies is now the most prolific childcare in modern British history.
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Amanda Knox
Everyone thought they knew how it ended. A verdict. A villain. A nurse named Lucy Letby.
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Anna Sinfield
Lucy Letby has been found guilty.
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Amanda Knox
But what if we didn't get the whole story?
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Anna Sinfield
The moment you look at the whole
- [47:03]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
picture, the case collapses.
- [47:05]
Amanda Knox
I'm Amanda Knox and in the new podcast the Case of Lucy Letby, we follow the evidence and hear from the people that lived it to ask what really happened when the world decided who Lucy Letby was.
- [47:19]
Jo Winterstein
No voicing of any skepticism or doubt.
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Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
It'll cause so much harm at every single level of the British establishment of this is wrong.
- [47:27]
Amanda Knox
Listen to Doubt the Case of Lucy Letby on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [47:36]
Gemma Speck
I'm Gemma Spegg, the host of the
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Anna Sinfield
psychology of your 20s.
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Gemma Speck
Have you ever been at the pharmacy
- [47:41]
Anna Sinfield
counter and the pharmacist asks you do
- [47:44]
Gemma Speck
you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That is exactly why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, a board certified psychiatrist and health educator, this show takes you behind the counter to answer the questions you'd wish you'd asked. Like what medications might not mix well, what vaccines should you consider before a big trip. And even those questions you're a little bit too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you real, trustworthy advice from the experts you see the most. Your neighborhood CVS pharmacist. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [48:40]
Jo Winterstein
Hi, this is Jo Winterstein, host of the Spirit Daughter Podcast where we talk about astrology, natal charts and how to step into your most vibrant life. And I just sat down with a
- [48:51]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
mini driver, the Irish traveler said when I was 16, you're gonna have a terrible time with men.
- [48:57]
Jo Winterstein
Actor, storyteller and unapologetic Aquarian visionary, Aquarius is all about freedom loving and different perspectives and I find a lot of people with strong placements in Aquarius like are Misunderstood A Sun and Venus in Aquarius in her seventh house spark her unconventional approach to partnership.
- [49:17]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms, on different houses, in different places, but just an embracing of the isness of it all.
- [49:25]
Jo Winterstein
If you're navigating your own transformation or just want a chart side view into how a leading artist integrates astrology, creativity and real life, this episode is a must. Listen Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcast.
- [49:46]
Anna Sinfield
Before we leave this topic behind, before we close out our Episode on the psychology of whimsy. One quick caveat. Whimsy is very special. It is very beautiful. It is not the solution to all of our problems. I know somebody is gonna come to me. Somebody's gonna come at me, like in the comments in my dm'. Like, you still need therapy and you, like, we still need stronger social supports and you still need good mental health habits. Like, whimsy is not that important. Let's make that very clear. Yes. You cannot just play mermaids in the pool and think that that is your dose of good psychological vibes for the month. I feel like a lot of you already know this without me, but I just. It goes without saying, or I feel like I have to say it. Whimsy cannot be everything, especially right now. You know, I see a lot of people being like, joy is resistance, Joy is protective. Joy is power. And it is all of those things. But don't let it become an avoidance technique. I think. I guess what I'm saying is don't let your whimsy turn into just another reason to spend money or pure hedonism where you only prioritize pleasure, you only prioritize you feeling good without thinking about your community or thinking about those around you. Just, like, keep it in the balance. And I'm. I don't want to end on, like, kind of a more. I don't want to end on, like, a realistic, like, kind of downer tone. But I just think it's important. I just think it's. Whimsy is so fantastic. It cannot be everything. It is like any other psychological tool. Great in small doses. Wrap up the episode, shall we? I feel like that's everything I have to talk about. I'm sure there's more that I've forgotten about. But you know what? Before we leave, I want to continue that list. If you are listening on Spotify, what is your whimsical practice that we did not include in this episode? What is something that you do to keep the sparkle alive, to keep that, like, childlike goodness alive? I really want to hear from you guys. I really want to make this. Maybe I'll make, like, a big collaborative list or, like, whimsy bucket list for all of us to. I don't know, for all of us to like, to start ticking things off and to kind of share in. So thank you for listening to this episode. Thank you for tuning in. I hope you found it joyful. I hope you got some inspiration from it. I hope you liked my tiara. Especially if you are watching on Netflix. Make sure that you are following us on Instagram hatpsychologypodcast following us on Substack if you want to read the transcript and all the papers that we referenced in this episode, that is where you can find them. But until next time, be safe, be kind, be gentle to yourself, enjoy some whimsy today, and we will talk very, very soon.
- [52:50]
Lily Herman
Ready for a different take on Formula 1? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid, the story of the sport's most consequential driver strike, and plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get
- [53:18]
Ella (Adventures of Curiosity Cove)
your podcasts on the Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast. What if the right fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right Fit, Ella explores movement, confidence and belonging and learns that not all strength looks the same. This Women's History Month story introduces kids to women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity code every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [53:51]
Anna Sinfield
Hello, it's me, Anna Sinfield, the host of the Girlfriends. I'm back with more one off interviews with some truly kick ass women on the Girlfriends Spotlight. I'm going to climb. This is badness. Horrendous.
- [54:06]
Lily Herman
Let's see how we can stop killing.
- [54:09]
Anna Sinfield
I'm not too intimidated by her.
- [54:10]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
What are you talking about? Listen to the Girlfriend Spotlight on the
- [54:17]
Anna Sinfield
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts
- [54:24]
Cino (Host of Cino Show Podcast)
on the Cino Show Podcast. Each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trejo talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to bench, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Adish, Johnny Knoxville and more.
- [54:44]
Anna Sinfield
I'm an alcoholic and without this proof, I'm a die.
- [54:48]
Cino (Host of Cino Show Podcast)
Listen to Cino's show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.
- [54:54]
Irish Traveler (Guest on Spirit Daughter Podcast)
Then she says, have you seen a
- [54:56]
Lily Herman
photo of my son?
- [54:57]
Anna Sinfield
And I'm like, who is this person?
- [54:59]
Host of Boys and Girls Podcast
Welcome to the Boys and Girls Podcast. Arranged marriage is basically a reality show, and you're auditioning for your soulmate. And who's judging? Only your entire family. I sacrificed myself to this ancient tradition, hoping to find love the right way. And instead, I found chaos, comedy, and a lot of cringe. Listen to boys and Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [55:24]
Anna Sinfield
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.