By Betty Fox
Throughout 2020 there have been many historical events including Coronavirus which killed many. The virus left feelings of grief, and heartache so when 2021 was coming around the corner, many were ready to put away the devastation and look forward to a new year – not called 2020. On New Year’s Eve, some were at home drinking champagne and zooming with friends and family to welcome the new year. Others were laying on the couch feeling hopeless. Last year many around the world waited up until 12 AM for 2020 but all it did was disappoint. Why should we be hopeful that this year will be better?
Lola Yang explained how on New Year’s Eve she “tried to feel hopeful but [she] knew that our problems wouldn’t be automatically fixed because of superficial human constructs like calendars.” As a society, on New Years’ Eve people normally feel happy, excited, and filled with hope. For some, during the past year, hope has been so hard to hold onto especially with the emotional turmoil of the past year. It might seem odd but when things feel difficult that is when positive thinking is the most important. “It is important to have a positive mindset, even when things in our world may be challenging, because, sometimes, that’s the only way that we can keep our heads above water long enough to survive until the time where things get better,” said Lola Yang.
Having a positive mindset is very important “If you get lost in all the bad news you can get really sad and feel like there is no hope for the future. When you focus on the positive you are able to get through the day feeling happy,” said Nora Jones though it is easier said than done. How can you bring hope and happiness into the new year? Ruth Whippman, a journalist, filmmaker, and writer of Pursuit of Happiness explained that giving her negative emotions and fears a voice “take[s] away their power. Paradoxically, it allows space for the more positive emotions to rise to the surface.” In regards to the Coronavirus, Whippman says “Rather than forcing ourselves to think positively, I believe we should allow ourselves to feel the grief and fear that we are collectively experiencing and be honest about it, both with ourselves and others. That honesty will allow the mental space for the more positive feelings to show up, too.” If you are not open about your emotions to yourself they can come out in indirect ways, or they can create more challenges to think positively.
Health coach Milla Lascelles has a couple of tips on thinking positively, one is to live in the moment and remind yourself of the positives in your life. To do this you think about a happy memory for about 20 seconds, this allows you to have a “renewed sense of positivity,” says Lascelles. Another one is to remind yourself of what you are thankful for by writing it down. By doing so it will put you in a different mindset. Especially now you may find you are surprised by how many things you are thankful for. “It can be as small or simple as you like, but noting down the things that make a positive difference in your life can help change your mindset. It brings instant happiness and joy, and can flick your emotions like a switch,” says Lascelles. Finally, Lascelles explains that getting outside daily for a walk can lead to happier moods, better memory, and a longer attention span. She says “Getting outside helps regulate our cortisol levels, meaning we’re less likely to suffer from anxiety, low moods, and stress, so it makes sense to utilize what’s free and on our doorsteps”. Going on walks has become the norm, because it is something we can do safely due to COVID-19, and it is the easiest to achieve for anyone who wants to bring more positivity and hope to their lives because it is so accessible.
As we are learning about how to think more positively, here are some LREI student’s responses to why they were happy one day. I’m happy today “because the president is getting replaced by someone who’s a decent human being,” said Nora Jones. Lola Yang said, “I am happy because I know that the hard work of those who care about our world will not be ignored and will bear bountiful fruit in the future.” Another classmate responded by saying “I’m happy because today I don’t have too much stuff to do and I can kind of relax and not stress about all my classes.” Even though our world has its ups and downs it is still possible to look on the bright side, and by doing so it can improve one’s mental health.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/2020-events
https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/ruth-whippman-2021-positive-attitude
https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/how-to-be-more-positive