On the Power of Positivity
A joyful little tugboat recently sailed down the Thames in London blaring out Monty Python's Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.
Good work little tugboat!
This act of positivity had quite an impact!
I know we’re struggling with self-isolation and social distancing (also known as physical distancing). I know a lot of people are struggling with finances, childcare, loneliness, and worry. Maybe the literature can help us with how to make things sunshiny-er from our lockdown.
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology differs from traditional “fix what’s broken” approaches, instead it’s about building up the good in life. It is the scientific study of ‘what makes life worth living’. There is a shift in focus towards happiness, love, and inspiration in human experience, as well as positive states and traits like resilience and gratitude, and spreading those elements across all areas of life.
Positive Psychology argues for the power of shifting your perspective to boost well-being and happiness in everyday life. Let’s take a look at some of the findings of positive psychology and how they might help right now.
1. Make Room for Gratitude
Research in Positive Psychology has shown that cultivating gratitude is positively related to happiness.
Some tips and tricks:
Inward Gratitude. Keeping a gratitude journal can increase your energy, and relieve pain and fatigue. Pick a medium (notebook, note on your phone, chalkboard on the wall), a goal (a list of 10 things, or one key theme), and a cadence (daily, weekly), that works for you. COVID-19 reminds us of so many things we are lucky to have. Some people make a practice of starting with a short meditation– it helps to get in the right headspace before you start.
Outward Gratitude. Write thank you notes! Whether it’s a small note to thank someone for a thoughtful favour, or a letter to thank someone who has had a positive impact on your life, writing thank you notes is an amazing way to cultivate gratitude (and touch someone else’s heart!). The most potent form is a hand-written note read aloud, but in the times of COVID-19, any medium will do.
So many things to be thankful for.
2. Infect Others… With Happiness!!!
Emotions, much like COVID-19, are contagious. Why not spread something people actually want… happiness! Research has found that people who are surrounded by happy friends are more likely to be happy in the future. This is a great time to surround yourself with happy things or to help spread happiness to others.
Happiness is contagious! :)
Good news! You don’t have to be face-to-face to transmit or catch positive emotions. Other things that work: cartoons, videos, movies, and music. It has also been found that reading other people’s positive posts on social media can boost happiness in the reader.
Some suggestions:
Watch your all-time favourite happy movies.
Step 1: make a list of the top 10 happiest movies of all time
Step 2: make a schedule of when you will watch them
Step 3: execute your plan
Make a happy song playlist. Our neighbours have a collaborative playlist going in our Whatsapp group chat! Here are the Top 10 most uplifting songs, according to science (and Western culture).
Send your friends funny memes or cartoons, and ask for some back.
Post something happy and positive on your socials.
3. Acts of Kindness.
Research has found that when people perform acts of kindness towards others they feel a boost in well-being. This extends to things like spending money on other people instead of yourself.
Acts of kindness trigger the release of hormones in your brain that contribute to mood, happiness, and overall well-being. More specifically, the release of oxytocin (which we can normally acquire from cuddles and hugs – strictly off limits right now unless you are in isolation with a willing accomplice). Although acts of kindness boost well-being, the effect is temporary, so kindness must be repeated to gain the effect, and some types of psychotherapy recommend it as a practice!
There have been a number of examples of acts of kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic all around the world.
In the UK, citizens took to their windows or to the streets (at a safe distance) to Clap for Carers and the work the NHS was doing to help the ill through COVID-19. Originating in Italy, moving over to Spain, the act of applauding healthcare workers has caught on in other places too, like Vancouver, who have made it a nightly ritual.
Yay Healthcare Workers!
IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING!
Here are some ideas for random acts of kindness you can do while self-isolated!
Random Acts of Kindness for Strangers:
If you’re allowed to go out shopping, let someone in the line ahead of you
Give a stranger a compliment
Leave letters of encouragement on people’s cars
Use sidewalk chalk to leave encouraging messages
Write letters to health care workers
Donate to a cause to get PPE to healthcare workers
Donate to a shelter or food bank
Say thank you to the city staff when they pick up garbage or recycling
Buy a coffee for the person after you in line
Random Acts of Kindness for Friends:
Send a small gift card (digitally) for takeout food or drink
Write them an encouraging note
Send over a favourite photo you’re both in
Organize a ‘watch party’ on Netflix together
Check in on an Elderly friend or neighbour
Help the Elderly get their groceries
Share disinfecting materials
Send flowers (if you flower shops are still open - ours are open for delivery only!)
Random Acts of Kindness for People You’re Stuck Social Distancing With:
Make their bed
Clean a room in the house
Make a special meal
Let them choose what to watch on TV
Leave them an encouraging note somewhere they will stumble across it
Lend them a good book
Bake cookies
In the confines of our homes, we have a chance to rethink our relationships with happiness and positivity. What are you missing that you’ll more intentionally make time for when Social Distancing is relaxed? What small things in your home give you pleasure? What acts of kindness, or received acts of kindness, made your heart happy?
Finally, here are some pieces of good news to make your day:
Nitrogen dioxide over #China has dropped with the coronavirus quarantine, Chinese New Year, and a related economic slowdown. https://t.co/URfLNy0GZJ #NASA #COVID2019 pic.twitter.com/PM60uL772K
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) March 4, 2020
Not related to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, but instead to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, the OZONE LAYER IS HEALING!!!
There has been a surge in volunteerism for healthcare. 500,000 people signed up to volunteer for the NHS in the UK.
There are nearly 20 COVID-19 vaccines in development. LET’S GO SCIENCE!
A #USask research team and collaborating scientists from across the country have been awarded $1 million to develop animal models and test vaccine candidates for effectiveness and safety against the new #coronavirus. @VIDOInterVac https://t.co/SXanfcxgvs
— U of Saskatchewan (@usask) March 6, 2020
Things still make people smile, like penguins getting to visit other exhibits at the aquarium in Chicago.
We are getting to see a lot more of people’s pets, including news anchors.
Bowser was a little nervous!
The Barenaked Ladies were able to jam together for all of our benefit:
More than 130,000 people have recovered from the virus worldwide. Good job, healthcare providers!
Have any other examples? Let me know!
Stay safe out there! And PLEASE STAY HOME!!!!
Love,
