Hope feels dangerous in a pandemic – so I am trying to build happiness by focusing on small delights | Emma Beddington

I am not one of nature's sunbeams, but we all need optimism in our lives right now. Can looking for little moments of joy help?

Apparently the fear of happiness has a name: cherophobia. You can check if you have it by answering a questionnaire that is halfway between teen mag summer quiz and the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Having lots of joy and fun causes bad things to happen" - strongly agree, somewhat disagree, neither agree nor disagree?

I am a strongly agree". Not one of nature's sunbeams, I am superstitiously inclined to regard happiness with suspicion; absurdly, I seem to believe that expecting the worst can ward it off.