PURPOSEFUL JOY
Living through a pandemic is going to have lasting effects on the collective mental health of the world’s population. It was a heavy year last year, and we still have a long way to go before getting to the other side of this. Sometimes it can be hard to remember times when we were not steeped in uncertainty. It can be hard to let go of our stress and we can often find ourselves drifting in our thoughts even when you are trying to relax. It can help to try and make space for both emotions.
It is possible to experience what feel like two opposite emotions at the same time. Just because you are going through a difficult time, it does not mean you can’t take time to engage in something that brings you joy. It can be hard work to try and make space for positive emotion and it takes some practice but it is important to remind yourself that the change comes with the practice and it cultivates resilience. We can take an active role in accessing the parts of us that are silly, fun, and joyous.
Can you set aside 5-10 min your day to cultivate feelings of joy, even if it is just a moment? Using mindfulness mindset can help you to connect with the moment and not get caught up in your pain and suffering. You can take some time to reflect on activities and connections that brings a smile to your heart. Like the memory of a pet, a song that you love to sing, connecting with nature, being silly with a good friend. Or can you just savor the moment and take in your environment and maybe take note of things that you may take for granted?
Here are some tips on things you can do engage in more with positive side:
Cultivate realistic thinking: You don’t have to always be positive thinker. It can actually be healthy to be skeptic at times. The best approach is to try and be balanced in your thought process. Asking yourself what is the evidence for “insert worry thought here”? How likely is this to happen? What coping skills do you have in place if the worst does happen?
Connect with others: We all have a need to be social, and feeling a sense of belonging. Having social support during times of stress can also help connect us to different perspectives and getting helpful feedback.
Develop good self-care: Try and keep a routine with exercise, getting enough sleep, and develop strong boundaries.
Show gratitude: Express gratitude to someone who has made a positive difference in your life. You can write them a letter, send a card, or do somethings special just for them.
Try some of these suggestions and see how you do in building on your resilience.
