In troubling times, how do we move forward? What mindset helps us bounce back from adversity?
When the world came to a standstill in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, few industries felt the impact like the performing arts. The halls were closed and the crowd dispersed. The musicians, actors and production crew had to face an unprecedented challenge: they had to remain resilient even though the way of life disappeared overnight.
Together with my colleagues at Clemson University and North Carolina State University, I wanted to explore what helps people persevere in times like this, so we partnered with MusiCares, a nonprofit that helps music industry professionals, to see how artists sustained themselves during the darkest times of the pandemic. to analyze resistance. the days We were particularly interested in two mental approaches: mindfulness (being present and aware in the moment) and hope (believing in and working for a better future). In psychology, these concepts can be used to describe a general state of being that reflects personality (some are inherently more self-aware or hopeful) and actions, such as regularly practicing meditation, to improve attention to the present. Many researchers also see mindfulness as a metacognitive process, which allows people to consciously control and modulate their attention, emotions, and behaviors in response to the moment in the moment, in an open and curious way, without judgment. Hope, on the other hand, functions as a forward-looking state that helps people reflect on their perceived ability to create ways around challenges.
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Mindfulness — a buzzword in wellness circles — seems like an obvious key to weathering a storm like a pandemic. After all, staying grounded in the present moment seems like a good way to avoid anxiety about an uncertain future. But our research says otherwise, a rather surprising story. While mindfulness is a powerful tool for wellness, it has limitations, and learning to cultivate a hopeful mindset is another critical strategy.
Our study followed 247 interpreters for 18 months, many of whom spent time in lockdown. We asked them about their mindset and well-being at different stages of the pandemic. As part of this effort, we collected data through the questionnaires we sent in 2021. People told us about their early experiences of the pandemic and the level of stress and resilience associated with work. We also asked them to what extent they agreed with various statements related to mindfulness or hope in relation to the pandemic. A higher state of awareness score suggested someone working to maintain awareness of their experiences in a non-judgmental manner, while state of hope indicated someone actively anticipating possible solutions to pandemic-related obstacles. This allowed us to assess people’s mental strategies and better understand how each approach helped people navigate the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.
Not surprisingly, these artists have been affected by the challenges of COVID-19. More interestingly, we did not find that mindfulness was particularly helpful as a coping strategy for pandemics. While it wasn’t harmful, it didn’t significantly help artists bounce back or stay engaged with their work during that long stressful period.
Instead, the hope was a true superstar. Those who maintained a hopeful outlook reported higher levels of work-related resilience and engagement, even when their industry was in limbo. They were also more likely to experience positive emotions, thereby increasing their ability to cope with ongoing crisis. Hopefulness also contributed to their ability to remain productive by exploring new ways to deliver their craft, such as virtual performances and online collaborations.
A few things may help explain this finding. First, awareness takes effort. And in times of great or prolonged stress, People may lack mental energy to effectively engage in self-soothing techniques. In line with this, a study found that people struggle with mindfulness techniques when they lack them quality sleep.
Another factor to consider is that researchers “the mindfulness paradox“. While being present and aware can be very helpful in many situations, it can backfire in prolonged situations. When your current reality is bleak and shows no signs of immediate improvement, focusing too much on the “now” can leave you feeling stuck or overwhelmed. If you’re constantly aware of how bad things are without believing they can get better, it’s hard to find the motivation to keep going.
This is not to say that mindfulness is useless; it may not be the best tool for every situation. When the researchers pooled data from 23 other studies on mindfulness in the workplace, they found that while mindfulness generally helped people with anxiety and distress, it had no clear benefit for problems such as work-related burnout.
Meanwhile, when you’re facing a long, difficult situation—unemployment, a health crisis, or any other major life challenge—staying actively employed Hope can be a powerful coping strategy. Just as people are encouraged to practice mindfulness, they can also benefit from cultivating hope. This does not mean blind optimism, but the belief that things can improve, along with the motivation to work on that improvement.
To put this into practice, try writing in your journal about what you would like to do in the future. To connect thought and action, connect with others to share those hopes and create a strategy by setting small, achievable goals to lead to a better future. All of these practices can give you something to focus on beyond your current situation.
Our research found that hope worked by increasing positive emotions, which in turn increased resilience. That means taking advantage of it the power of positive emotions—taking time to engage in activities you enjoy, connect with loved ones, or practice gratitude—can be essential to our toolbox to try.
The key here is not to assume that it is futile or that hope is a magic bullet. Different strategies work for different challenges. And especially in dark times, when the present feels unbearable and the future uncertain, cultivating hope can give us the boost we need to keep going. There is light at the end of the tunnel, even if we can’t see the whole road ahead.
As we navigate uncertainty and face new challenges, we can take a cue from the resilient artists in our study. By fostering hope, focusing on a better future and taking small steps to get there, we can find the strength to persevere even in the toughest of times. And who knows? We might come out on the other side stronger and stronger than ever.
Are you a scientist specializing in neuroscience, cognitive science or psychology? And have you read any peer reviews recently that you’d like to write for Mind Matters? Please submit suggestions here American scientific‘s Mind Matters editor at Daisy Yuhas dyuhas@sciam.com.
This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author(s) are not necessarily their own. American scientific
