TO WRITE: What would you love to buy?
Economically, times are looking very grim for most of us right now. And, whether we want to face it yet or not, the holiday season -- with all it's frenzied buying and extra expenses -- is fast approaching. Does all this money talk sound overwhelming? Today I invite you to set aside those stressful issues and think about you.
Play with this. . .
Write continuously for 20 minutes on the question: What would you love to buy if you could? For me, an eagerly awaited new book is a favorite treat, so I might simply purchase more books if I had unlimited shopping resources. Your tastes may run to larger items -- a new house? car? a tropical island? Or perhaps you'd like to buy a gift for a loved one?
After you write, reflect on why this item is important to you. Is it something you really could go out and acquire today? If so, go for it, and see how wonderful you feel. If it's unattainable until you win the lottery, consider why you'd like it and brainstorm on whether there's a smaller alternative that could provide the same pleasure.
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
TO READ: "Against Happiness" ??
I was amazed to read that a new book, Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy, by Eric G. Wilson, actually lauds the experience of sadness or "melancholia" to the extent that it asserts that antidepressants should be used only for severe depressions, not for mild to moderate cases. He's got to be kidding, right?
Against Happiness, clearly titled as a comeback to Peter Kramer's book Against Depression, was reviewed in last Sunday's New York Times by National Public Radio star Garrison Keillor. According to Keillor, Wilson argues that America is so focused on happiness that melancholia -- which he believes is the the source of much great art, poetry and music -- is disappearing.
I've not yet read the book, and I'm not sure I will, for frankly I find this argument depressing. I've written about creativity and the writing-depression connection in my book, Writing through the Darkness: Easing Your Depression with Paper and Pen (to be released in June, 2008). Indeed there are correlations between bipolar disorder and artistic creativity, and much lesser correlations between depression and creativity. Who knows, maybe a lot of art and literature has in fact been born of low moods? So maybe, one can argue, melancholia (which Wilson sees as "turbulent," while depression itself is "passive"), has a certain benefit for society as a whole. (By the way, I know I've certainly had both passive and turbulent clinical depressions, so I don't buy this distinction.) But if it causes suffering that could be abated, I say get rid of depression.
If mild and moderate depressions are not treated, they can become severe depressions. And if a person wants her or his melancholia treated, and a qualified professional believes it appropriate, by all means it should be treated. (If a person is merely transiently sad, an antidepressant isn't going to do the trick anyway.) If a person doesn't want such treatment, and some artists don't, at least at times, I respect that. But to argue, as Wilson does, as cited by Keillor, "The greatest tragedy is to live without tragedy," is to romanticize depression. A romantic aura around what are biological brain disorders stigmatizes these conditions, and stigma contributes to many people's reticence to seek treatment.
Even if melancholia/depression does lead to some creativity, I can't believe it has cornered the market on human innovation. If human suffering can be alleviated, it would be very sad not to do it.
See: Eric G. Wilson, Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy (Sarah Chrichton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux); Garrison Keillor, Woe Be Gone, New York Times, March 16, 2008.
I was amazed to read that a new book, Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy, by Eric G. Wilson, actually lauds the experience of sadness or "melancholia" to the extent that it asserts that antidepressants should be used only for severe depressions, not for mild to moderate cases. He's got to be kidding, right?
Against Happiness, clearly titled as a comeback to Peter Kramer's book Against Depression, was reviewed in last Sunday's New York Times by National Public Radio star Garrison Keillor. According to Keillor, Wilson argues that America is so focused on happiness that melancholia -- which he believes is the the source of much great art, poetry and music -- is disappearing.
I've not yet read the book, and I'm not sure I will, for frankly I find this argument depressing. I've written about creativity and the writing-depression connection in my book, Writing through the Darkness: Easing Your Depression with Paper and Pen (to be released in June, 2008). Indeed there are correlations between bipolar disorder and artistic creativity, and much lesser correlations between depression and creativity. Who knows, maybe a lot of art and literature has in fact been born of low moods? So maybe, one can argue, melancholia (which Wilson sees as "turbulent," while depression itself is "passive"), has a certain benefit for society as a whole. (By the way, I know I've certainly had both passive and turbulent clinical depressions, so I don't buy this distinction.) But if it causes suffering that could be abated, I say get rid of depression.
If mild and moderate depressions are not treated, they can become severe depressions. And if a person wants her or his melancholia treated, and a qualified professional believes it appropriate, by all means it should be treated. (If a person is merely transiently sad, an antidepressant isn't going to do the trick anyway.) If a person doesn't want such treatment, and some artists don't, at least at times, I respect that. But to argue, as Wilson does, as cited by Keillor, "The greatest tragedy is to live without tragedy," is to romanticize depression. A romantic aura around what are biological brain disorders stigmatizes these conditions, and stigma contributes to many people's reticence to seek treatment.
Even if melancholia/depression does lead to some creativity, I can't believe it has cornered the market on human innovation. If human suffering can be alleviated, it would be very sad not to do it.
See: Eric G. Wilson, Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy (Sarah Chrichton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux); Garrison Keillor, Woe Be Gone, New York Times, March 16, 2008.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
TO WRITE: Life's "Grand Essentials" Amid Depression
A writing student recently sent me the following quote, and then I saw it elsewhere a couple of days later. I felt it was calling to me.
"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
-- Joseph Addison (1672- 1719)
When depression is lurking or even feels smothering, consider this recipe for happiness. It won't replace your other healing techniques, but for me, it provides perspective, a sense that life isn't as complicated as it sometimes feels, and gratitude. Every time I use it to take stock of my situation I come up with different responses. They don't need to be big things either - coffee with a friend, a soft cat, and looking forward to a positive new volunteer job have been fulfilling for me.
Play with this...
Take 20 minutes to respond to the Addison quote. List several things in each of the three categories if you like, then reflect (in writing) on what they mean to you in terms of your emotions and mood. Does imagining these things in your life leave you a little more satisfied, or does it feel discouraging? If it's the latter, are there tiny things you could work on in these areas of your life that might bring more contentment?
Beth
A writing student recently sent me the following quote, and then I saw it elsewhere a couple of days later. I felt it was calling to me.
"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
-- Joseph Addison (1672- 1719)
When depression is lurking or even feels smothering, consider this recipe for happiness. It won't replace your other healing techniques, but for me, it provides perspective, a sense that life isn't as complicated as it sometimes feels, and gratitude. Every time I use it to take stock of my situation I come up with different responses. They don't need to be big things either - coffee with a friend, a soft cat, and looking forward to a positive new volunteer job have been fulfilling for me.
Play with this...
Take 20 minutes to respond to the Addison quote. List several things in each of the three categories if you like, then reflect (in writing) on what they mean to you in terms of your emotions and mood. Does imagining these things in your life leave you a little more satisfied, or does it feel discouraging? If it's the latter, are there tiny things you could work on in these areas of your life that might bring more contentment?
Beth
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