Liz Jones is a well-known journalist who has chronicled her life through her popular diary column in the Mail On Sunday. Candidly sharing her struggles with mental health, relationships, and body image, Jones has gained a loyal following for her honest and often raw reflections on life. In her latest diary entry, titled “In which I long to feel joy again,” Jones opens up about her ongoing battle with depression and her quest to find happiness once more. In this article, we will take a closer look at Jones’s diary entry, exploring the themes of mental health, self-care, and the pursuit of happiness.
Liz Jones, an author, and journalist, talks about feeling “blah” in her recent article. She discusses how she has been experiencing anhedonia, a Greek term that describes an inability to feel happy. The article is titled Feeling ‘Blah’? Why Anhedonia Has Left You Joyless and How to Recapture Life’s Highs. It is a part of her musings on relationships, self-care, and contemporary living.
Jones argues that one does not have to be depressed to experience anhedonia, but it can be a symptom. An example she gives is not being able to recall a time when you enjoyed yourself. Moreover, you no longer find pleasure in activities that would typically bring you joy, such as dog walks or having dinner at a posh restaurant. She attributes this feeling to the prolonged lockdown, which prevented people from planning and dressing up for events or socializing, leading to a sense of sameness or Groundhog Day.
Jones emphasizes having goals and something to look forward to, which would boost our morale and happiness. She relates how she used to dress up and take care of herself out of respect for others. However, one comment from a reader at a readers’ evening stayed with her, saying that she needed to stop having expensive treatments and take care of herself. This comment misses a fundamental law according to Jones, that looking good and dressing up contributes to boosting our mood and self-esteem.
Jones is working on a musical set mostly in the 60s and notes that people were smart, slim, and wore proper shoes that had been polished. They had their hair set, wore false eyelashes, lipstick, and carried handbags. The external appearance affects our mood and self-esteem, she asserts.
Jones, who has always loved fashion, has a date with White Ferrari Guy later this week but is hopelessly out of practice. She frets about what to wear and decides on her 20-year-old sheer skirt from Prada, an oversized V-neck borrowed from Marks & Spencer, and new diamond stud earrings she got from David Beckham. She is not feeling particularly joyful despite her preparations, and the endless questions and eventual boasting that will likely occur during her date creates more anxiety.
Jones concludes that we all need to look after ourselves, dress up, and take care of our appearance to boost our mood and self-esteem. She contends that the external directly affects the internal. Additionally, she suggests we need to have goals and something to look forward to, especially during these trying times.
In conclusion, Jones presents a thought-provoking article on the connection between our external appearance and our mental and emotional well-being. She argues that we need to look after ourselves, dress up, and have something to look forward to in our lives. These would help us boost our mood and feel motivated.
