Back to the basics

‘This time is going to give us a bit of a reset button. How are we going to do things differently on the other side?’

— Margaret Atwood, author

The time of the coronavirus has stopped much of daily work, and most people are self-isolating in homes to prevent catching this deadly virus. It is a time of reflection, care for one another, and also a fight for survival. It is in this time that we can focus on what matters, what really helps us, and come back to the basics of human happiness.

The basics

We are constantly surrounded by advertisements of things we might want, and it is therefore important to think about what the elements are that actually help to sustain us in the long run and that can give us a true sense of happiness. According to Martin Seligman, author of Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Wellbeing, human happiness depends largely on the 5 key building blocks of the PERMA model:

1. Positive Emotions - one positive feeling leads the way for more positive emotions

2. Engagement - engaging in something fully helps us to submerge ourselves in the present, and time seems to stop

3. Positive Relationships - positive relationships satisfy our need for connection and can also help in times of stress

4. Meaning - being part of something larger and having a sense of purpose

5. Accomplishment/Achievement - achieving goals and living life harmoniously with one's values

The reset button

The time of the coronavirus has offered us a chance to step back from failing and stress-inducing systems, and to take a good, hard look at how we can all operate in a better way. How can we inject more positive emotions into our everyday lives? Our recent experience with the pandemic has shown us how vulnerable we can all be at any time, and at any age. Therefore, we must try to inject more positivity into our lives and those of others in the times that we have with each other. Engaging in activities fully is also tremendously important, so that we can get the most out of our every day. It is so easy to get caught up in the monotony of routine, and therefore vital to see things from an outside perspective, in order to inject innovation when necessary.

Our relationships with people help to build connectedness, security, and care, especially in times of crisis. Building positive relationships helps both during times of success and times of fear, and though it is so important to support one another, this is not ever done enough. Now, in the time of the coronavirus, the support we give to each other will never be forgotten. Moreover, we are all fighting this pandemic together - families, health professionals, governors, and more are banding together to create strong impenetrable shields against this enemy. We all like to find meaning in things larger than ourselves, and this ingredient can enhance our sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Achieving small or larger realistic goals can also be important, but during the time of corona and after this can be all the more challenging. However finding processes in which we challenge ourselves to reach something that is important, can be done also from home and it is up to us to think creatively about how to achieve these. Of course every challenging process has its ups and downs, but seeing the 'wins' is important in order to assess if we are challenging ourselves in the right ways. The PERMA model also shows us that it is important to zero in on fundamental values and check in to see if you are living your life in line with them. It is important for us to stay true to these values as best we can and the PERMA model will be more crucial for us than ever.