The world is going through a difficult phase with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It is challenging for governments, the general public, and communities to surpass these dark clouds of apocalypse looming on us. People have been stuck at home for quite a while due to social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, work-from-home and for some, due to job loss. This has caused severe breakdown of structures of social contact that are largely based on in-person interaction such as going to offices, schools, recreational or religious centres, and social gatherings among friends and colleagues. Seeing light at the end of the tunnel is difficult with the number of people infected and dying increasing by each passing hour. It is no surprise that all this negativity is deteriorating our mental health.
Just as each coin has two sides, for a moment, let’s try to see if there’s another side to this scary scenario. Though it’s tough, let’s try to focus on the positive side of things. So, is there anything good in this terrible situation? Yes, there is, and let’s talk about it.
Quality time for self and family
In the midst of our daily societal and work pressures, we have often complained about the lack of time for our families and ourselves. Previously we were busy running around, commuting to and from work, and craving time for relaxation. Currently, many of us are spending that commute time to sleep another hour, read a book, mediate, spend more time with a child or partner, etc. Some of us are exercising regularly or doing yoga, exploring new activities such as meditation, gardening, or cooking. Additionally, instead of rushing with a coffee mug onto the subway or take away meals, we are having relaxed and fresh cooked meals with family. Many of us are cooking a variety of new dishes and exploring our culinary skills.
Oftentimes, we used to wait for the weekend or a holiday to call friends and family. Now many of us are connecting with family and friends over video chats or phone calls on a more regular basis and we are able to enjoy more time together while staying at home. Do you think, you are making best of this time?
More altruistic behavior
The empathy-altruism hypothesis by Batson and Shaw (1991) reports that people are more likely to engage in altruistic behavior when they feel empathy for the person who is in distress. This hypothesis also suggests that empathy induced altruistic motivation can increase cooperation and care in conflict situations. The proposed hypothesis is evident during this COVID-19 pandemic as we all are experiencing the same kind of problems due to pandemic circumstances; therefore, we can relate better to others due to the similarities in our experiences and feelings. The more we can relate to others the more we are willing to help others. We are trying to take care of ourselves as well as others. Many youngsters are even offering help to vulnerable elderly people in getting their groceries and running their errands so that elderly can avoid social contacts and remain safe. During this time, there are less reported crime rates as compared to reported helping behavior. This shows that people are involving themselves in pro-social behavior rather than anti-social behavior and activities. So, let’s continue helping each other in fighting this in every way we can!
Less pollution in the environment
The lockdown around the world has led to a decreased number of vehicles on the roads. The shutting down of many industries has also lead to reduced pollution levels. Previously, the deep blue skies, a clear and vivid skyline, calm and clean water, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, desolated roads, less noise of honking vehicles, melodious chirping birds were part of story books, poems, movies or only a part of the imagination of poets and writers. All of this is a dream come true for most of us now. We can cherish all of this even in the middle of our previously hustling and bustling cities. We no longer have wait for weekend getaways to the countryside to enjoy these moments. Take a break from the hustling world and enjoy nature and the tranquility!
Appreciation of little joys of life
It is not always the biggest accomplishments that make us happy. The little joys of life can also bring joy and enhance our mental health. Many times, the small things like sipping a cup of coffee with your partner instead of rushing with mug on the road, watching the sunset live instead of seeing it only in movies and shows, hearing birds chirping instead of alarming clocks in the morning, spending more time with your child, can give us happiness. Many of us forget to appreciate the little things in life, forget to appreciate our strengths, forget what we have and, instead, focus on accomplishing more and more. Take a minute to reflect on what you have and to be thankful for little joys of life.
Differentiating pleasure and happiness
We are a pleasure-seeking society. Most of us spend our energy seeking gratification from things we desire. This period of crisis has affected our day-to-day indulgence in pleasure seeking activities like going to shopping malls, eating and drinking in restaurants and bars, by giving us the opportunity to seek inner happiness and ways to accomplish it. Though there are various viewpoints explaining happiness, happiness can be achieved by having an understanding of the transience of life (Puff, 2018). This is critical because understanding that in life both the good and bad are transient and so they do pass, can be beneficial in enhancing personal happiness in such bad times. What do you think? Are you seeking more happiness compared to pleasure?
So, the next time you find yourself worrying about the world and the consequences of this pandemic, consider what positives it has given you. Remember, your mental health is the byproduct of your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. And your emotions are determined by your thoughts so we must be careful about what we are thinking! If you need support and help in managing your thoughts and behaviors, contact us for help!
Written by: Simerpreet Ahuja, Clinical Therapist
Edited/Reviewed by: Dr. Stacy Lekkos, C. Psych
References
Batson, C. D., & Shaw, L. L. (1991). Evidence for altruism: Toward a pluralism of prosocial motives. Psychological Inquiry, 2(2), 107–122. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0202_1
Puff, R. (2018). The pitfalls to pursuing happiness. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meditation-modern-life/201809/the-pitfalls-pursuing-happiness.
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