Happiness in the Time of Covid-19, Climate Change, Violent White Supremacy

Originally published in Women Writers, Women’s Books:

HAPPINESS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19, CLIMATE CHANGE, VIOLENT WHITE SUPREMACY, ETC.

June 7, 2020 | By Ginny Sassaman

Perhaps surprisingly, a season of unrelentingly grim news is the perfect time for a serious discussion of both personal and collective happiness. That is because genuine happiness is the opposite of a self-indulgent quest for pleasure. Rather, deep inner happiness leads to thriving, performing at our best, and greater compassion – along with a much-needed enhanced capacity to feel positive emotions. Parent, politician, activist, farmer – however you contribute to making life better for others, genuine happiness can help you do your work better.

I am definitely a fan of pleasure. At the same time, my social justice activism provides substantial meaning in my life – and meaning is just as important as pleasure in building a happy life.

These days, because there’s a lot more meaning than pleasure in my life, I am diligently focusing on positivity as much as possible – though, it must be said, without blinders on. This is a good step for all of us privileged enough to be able take it. Otherwise, the news could overwhelm our ability to work effectively. Further, happiness is contagious. We have the opportunity, as spiritual leader Jack Kornfield puts it, to “be a beacon of well-being, love, and care that not only touches but uplifts those whom we encounter.”

There are scores of happiness strategies in my book and elsewhere that you can use to deliberately tend to your happiness. Here, as a sample, are three timely strategies: meditating, signature strengths, and grounded optimism.

Meditation, which builds mindful awareness of the world around and within you, is beneficial is so many ways. A regular meditation practice may literally rewire our brains to make us more compassionate. Now is definitely the time for to be our most compassionate selves—including compassion for ourselves.

Additionally, mindfulness is a vital building block for other happiness skills, such as growing empathy and kindness, or appreciating the connection between animal and human well-being. Mindfulness is incredibly helpful for productive conflict resolution and forgiveness. Meditation can increase gratitude, another key to happiness.

Meditation can also just help you feel better. When I am distraught, meditating calms me down. In other words, meditation builds resilience.

Here’s another great tool: using your signature strengths. ….

Read the full article here.