Finding Happiness Even in Dark Times
As many of us know, cooperating and caring for others are traits that make us happy, and an expert hopes the coronavirus pandemic will encourage people to practice these qualities even more so across the globe. The co-director of the Wellbeing programming at the LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance, Prof Richard Layard explains that “To get through this we’re going to have to develop a much higher level of social responsibility. Some people are going to have to stay in quarantine, and others are going to have to support them to do that. My hope is that it will encourage a move from an atomized society to a much more caring one.”
Thus we need to remember that it is not “us against them” but rather it is all of us against this virus, and that we are in this together. Moreover social scientists say that it is the feeling of powerlessness that makes us unhappy, and when we take control, especially in times such as these, it helps us to cope.
Vanessa King, lead psychologist for Action for Happiness, the UK partner organization to the World Happiness Report, gives us some tips for finding happiness. She says we should all be conscientious about how much news we consume each day. While it is okay to update ourselves with the situation at hand, it does not help to obsess. Instead make sure to stay in touch with people including your family and friends as well as someone you care about that may not have a good social network.
When we concern ourselves with the welfare of others, it helps us to feel good. Remember even when we practice social distancing, we can still be friendly and smile at others. You will feel better inside as you spread a little cheer.
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/20/happiness-is-contagious-too-caring-for-each-other-makes-us-feel-better-experts