Finding your Vorfreude

FAQs for Natural Migraine Relief

I read an article today that I can’t resist sharing, even though it is not specific only to migraine headaches. One of the problems with a recurring or chronic health problem like migraine is the negative anticipation of the miserable experience. On the other hand, a very real component of the joys in our life is also their anticipation. The word for this in German is ‘vorfreude’, or “the anticipation of joy.” Have you ever found that the anticipation of headache pain can involve just as much suffering as the headache itself? The same principle… in the opposite direction can be true of the better, lovely and uplifting emotions and experiences in our lives.

An useful article by Betsy Reed in the US online version of The Guardian: “The vorfreude secret: 30 zero-effort ways to fill your life with joy.” does a wonderful job of explaining how the anticipation of the little things in life that give us joy that is just as powerful as the experience itself. While they don’t erase the negative events like debilitating headaches, these moments of satisfaction and delight can help power us through them. Ms. Reed lists 30 simple ways to add the power of ‘anticipating joy’ to everyday life. It really brightened my day. I’m already working on my next 2-3 extra “joy-is-on the-way” events for the next 24 hours. I hope you can do the same!

To your health, without the headaches,