Happiness in challenging times

Happiness may be the last thing on your mind as we trudge through this pandemic and the setbacks the U.S. has recently had. I recently read an excellent article by Sari Harrar called Happiness in Hard Times, and want to share the information with you. The author mentions that happiness is part of our health equation and in difficult times it can lift us up.

Harrar mentions what happens in some of the hospitals in New York every time a COVID patient is released, or is able to breathe without the help of a ventilator. She said they play the Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun” over the loudspeaker. This helps people feel hope, or may make them smile. People are under a tremendous amount of stress and just a little surge like this can improve their mood and mental health.

How can we be happy at this time?

Some people may feel that it is wrong to feel happy when the economy is tanking. There is racial injustice, along with the health crisis that COVID is wreaking on the world. However, researchers on happiness say just the opposite is true. We need to find happiness in our daily lives and in the small things that make us smile. Happiness helps us become more resilient to get through these difficult times.

Research on suffering and happiness

Research done on the after effects of the World Trade Center bombings had some interesting results. Americans show more kindness, gratitude, hope and love than they did prior to the attacks. Additional research shows that this was not a fleeting phenomenon as 58% of people still felt positive things three years later. This certainly doesn’t mean that they didn’t suffer. But, they were able to find some meaning in their suffering. It is recognizing that there are silver linings that come from their struggles. Knowing that there will be some gifts that come from struggles can also lead to greater happiness.

Medical studies also show that having this positivity makes a difference in the well-being of cancer patients and others with painful or challenging health conditions. It makes a difference on their mental wellbeing. In addition those who were able to have empathy for others or recognize that others had it worse, helped their sense of well-being.

Man’s Search for Meaning

An excellent book is Victor Frankls’ Man’s Search for Meaning. He is a holocaust survivor and what got him through this horrendous time was what meant the most to him. It has been quite a while since I read the book. However, my recollection is that having faith that his wife would be there for him after he got out gave his life meaning and hope. This hope is what sustained him through those challenging times. He noticed that those in the concentration camps that did not feel a sense of purpose were more likely to perish. That positivity kept him alive. It is amazing that someone who suffered in ways that none of us could imagine was able to find hope through his suffering.

Of course we would never wish a pandemic or suffering on anyone. Many people are suffering emotionally if not physically from COVID. It may surprise you to know that after a crisis most adults will feel an improvement in their sense of well-being. Victor Frankl refers to this as “tragic optimism.” The American Psychological Association calls it “post-traumatic growth.”

What gives your life meaning?

Again this doesn’t mean that we would want anyone to feel bad, yet in these times it helps us focus on what is truly important. Having all the extras in life isn’t what gets you through. It is the deeper things such as family, relationships and spirituality that give us meaning. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list and there may be others that give your life meaning. Think about it. Have you been able to realize any blessings throughout this pandemic? Are you seeing some positive things occurring? Are there some ways that you have grown during these difficult time? Hopefully you are able to recognize some gifts or blessings that have come from this.

These are difficult times and many people are struggling. Life is stressful enough. Then add all the things that are going on in our world, and we are all set up to struggle emotionally. Often times it helps to have someone to talk to and find meaning with what is going on in your world. Please give me a call at 713-304-6554 if I can help you out.

Take care,

Debbie