What's the one common denominator in all of these pictures? I'd say that it's whimsy. A person dunking a basketball in a Teletubby Poe costume? A log of wood chained to a fence because it rhymes with "dog"? Perhaps it veers more on the side of absurd and weird, but I'd say that it's whimsical as well. And I think that most of us could do with more whimsy in our lives, don't you agree, Pandas?
Sure, "Pics That Go Hard" does whimsy in a nonsensical, absurd way. And whimsy, as most people understand it, is probably embodied by Waymond from the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once. His version is way more wholesome, with all the googly eyes he puts on things and his gentle and supportive attitude.
There's this notion that once we grow up, we have to be serious. No more whimsy, no more silly memes, no more stupid childish things. But even mental health experts agree that most people need to remain in touch with their inner child. Even if it is through silly memes and pics that "go hard."
Therapist and Licensed Medical Social Worker Erica Schwartzberg explains that most of us feel "a quiet grief" once we grow up. And that's why we need to keep the silliness alive. "We need low-stakes joy, creative messes, and adult 'playdates' that aren't just drinks or dinner — things like rollerskating, collage nights, walking with no destination, or laughing so hard you forget to check your phone," Schwartzberg says. "These aren't just cute distractions; they're nervous system nourishment."
So, what can whimsy look like, exactly? "Happiness expert" and author Gretchen Rubin describes it as adding imagination and surprise into our daily lives. The experts at the Rocky Mountain Relational Therapy refer to it as "playfulness woven into the ordinary." Whimsy can be as simple as putting stickers on your work monitor, talking to your plant, or lighting a scented candle with intention.
Bringing some whimsy into your everyday routine can help you feel better. It probably won't erase stress, grief, or anxiety, but it might help manage them. Small things like a goofy name on a calendar or going for a walk without a destination can help ground you in the moment and tether you to the here and now.
The positive effect of whimsy can also be explained by neuroscience. Say you make a cup of coffee in a colorful, whimsical mug every morning, and you use the same one every morning. It becomes a sort of ritual, and rituals, according to researchers at Harvard, help us deal with anxiety. It gives us a sense of control, as if our brains are telling us: "You are safe, you are steady."
Whimsical acts also bring novelty into our lives. Have you ever thought of swapping your boring white plates with custom ceramic ones? Perhaps ones decorates with cats, ducks, or flowers? When we encounter something new, our brain releases a dose of dopamine, and changing some of our ordinary everyday objects into more whimsical ones might give us a micro-dose of dopamine each time we use them.
