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The coronavirus is deadly serious. It’s wreaking havoc for individuals, companies, municipalities, and the world. The news is filled with stories of sickness, job loss, disappointment and death. There’s no shortage of bad news when it comes to COVID-19. It impacting our ability to be productive and engaged in our work. Exposure to all this negativity is making even the most optimistic among us feel frustrated, deflated and even depressed. Making matters worse, this negativity is highly contagious. We’re taking major precautions to protect our physical health, so why do we resist protecting ourselves from things that can harm our mental health? Part of the reason comes from a built-in negativity bias we human beings possess.
In the field of psychology (and defined in Wikipedia) negativity bias is “the notion that, even when of equal intensity, things of a more negative nature (e.g. unpleasant thoughts, emotions, or social interactions; harmful/traumatic events) have a greater effect on one's psychological state and processes than neutral or positive things.” So the way to override that primal alarm (which now does us more harm than good) is to drown it out with things that are positive, heartwarming and encouraging. One study suggests we need at least 5 times as much positive stimuli to counteract the negative. Now’s the time to fill your heart and mind with all things fun, optimistic and kind. When we look for them, there are many copper linings (copper does not transmit COVID-19) to these otherwise tumultuous times. You just have to be intentional about it. These five ways, along with some examples are a good start.
1. Humanity.
Focus on the stories that remind you of the goodness of humanity and the power of human connection. In Rome on Friday, March 13th, everyone was encouraged to go open their windows or go out on their balconies to play music and sing. It prompted the hashtag #EverythingWillBeFine. A North Carolina woman wanted to share her engagement with her grandfather who was in a nursing home that did not allow visitors. She found a way to show him the ring by pressing her hand to his window. Although he is a doctor, Elvis Francois’s name also destined him to be a singer. A believer that music is healing, Dr. Francois breaks out in song at the Mayo Clinic where he is an orthopedic resident. That’s a frontline healthcare worker going beyond his defined role to soothe healthcare workers and their patients. This group of neighbors delighted a quarantined woman in Madrid by singing to her on her 80th birthday. This inspirational video of a virtual orchestra shows the power of collaboration and hope.
Actively seek and share stories like those that celebrate the best of the human spirit. Much better than images of people hoarding toilet paper, right?
2. Time.
Time may be the greatest gift of this devasting crisis. If you are now WFH, you’ve just been gifted your commute time. If some of your work is postponed or canceled, or if you’ve unfortunately been furloughed or even laid off, you surely have less wealth, but you do have more time. How can you spend that time in a way that will bring you joy and happiness—now and for the future? Back when you were working overtime and longed for a break, who were you missing? What did you wish you could do in order to restore the balance in your life? Fill your time with reaching out to people you love, or dabbling in things you have always wanted to try. Learn a language. Reconnect with old friends. Develop a new meditation habit.
3. Serendipity.
A lot of the disruption that's resulting from COVID-19 is seriously distressing. But some of the disruption comes with unexpected benefits for exactly what you were wishing for. For example, a neighbor of mine worked for a company that did not allow any employees to work from home. Nor did the firm have any provisions for paternity leave, yet he was just about to have his first child. The day he and his wife brought their newborn son home from the hospital, he received an email indicating that his company was moving to mandatory WFH until further notice. He is now working with his newborn son in the same room, and he will unexpectedly get to spend weeks or months with him during those precious first days of his child’s life. Another unexpected side effect of the coronavirus is the positive impact on the environment. The canals of Venice, normally filled with pollution from people and boat traffic, recovered. They’re now sparkling with sea life, including dolphins. And the sky is clearer over much of the world, thanks to fewer cars on the road and aircraft in the sky. Are you on the lookout for serendipity?
4. Generosity.
Human beings are wired to be generous. And being generous is good for your health. When you give, you increase your self-esteem and self-worth. It also gives your immune system a boost. Oprah magazine highlighted a story that showed that “simply contemplating generosity boosts your immunity. When Harvard students watched a film about Mother Teresa tending to orphans, the number of protective antibodies in their saliva surged.” So help those who need it, and share in the positive benefits for yourself. The stories of doing good could fill a library. NBA stars are paying the salaries of the stadium workers who no longer have stadiums to staff. Delta’s CEO is giving up his salary to help keep workers paid during a crisis that is having a disproportionate impact on travel industry workers. TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Doctor, and The Resident have decided to donate their show wardrobe—surgical gloves and medical gowns—to the real doctors and medical professionals who need them.
Doing good doesn’t require fame or privilege; generosity is even more infectious than the disease itself. Ordinary citizens are getting in on the act. The San Francisco Chronicle shined the spotlight on Sharky Laguana, the owner of Bandago, a San Francisco small business that rents vans. Laguana is working with City Hall to offer free use of his vans to transport homeless people to shelters or whatever else is needed. Sheri Yeisley, an interior decorator who specializes in window treatments, responded to health officials’ ask for 10,000 and 15,000 face masks. She spread the word through her circles of sewing friends and through Facebook, which prompted hundreds to start making facemasks, reports CNN. Her story underscores the fact that you might not think you have much, but working with others, you have the power of plenty.
5. Humor.
It may seem hard to find the humor in such a widespread, devasting crisis, but there’s humor all around if you pay attention. According to mental health and wellness website healthguide.org, “Laughter relaxes your body, boosts the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins, protects the heart and burns calories.” This image made me laugh. It depicts how we might look after months of cutting our own hair. Vulture assembled a whole series of coronavirus jokes to keep us laughing. Clips from “The Carol Burnett Show” and a slew of other classic comedies are two clicks away on YouTube. Write a mini-memoir featuring only the funniest incidents, people and phrases you can remember. The next time you want to check for another crisis update online, reach for something funny instead. Stop feeding your mind a diet of doom.
Laugh. Give. Appreciate. Acknowledge. Support. Nix the negativity and lift your spirits to new heights.
William Arruda is the cofounder of CareerBlast and author of Digital YOU: Real Personal Branding in the Virtual Age.
