Resist Negativity: Finding Wonder in the Mundane
The world often feels like it’s lost its magic. But if you change your perspective, you can find wonder in the mundane.
BY: CLAUDIA MINARDI
Photo via Pinterest
It’s impossible to constantly be happy, under normal circumstances and the “unprecedented times” we are currently experiencing.
It’s also harder to find things to be happy about.
Every time I turn on the news, I’m met with the world burning, both metaphorically and literally. There is climate change, mass murders, shootings and stabbings, and of course, the ongoing pandemic. Stories of job layoffs, poverty, police brutality, disease, and kidnapping dominate mainstream media.
The constant fear of missing out forces us back into this sick cycle: wanting to distance ourselves from this negativity, yet being scared of being out of the loop, so we allow ourselves to be sucked back in.
Social media, specifically TikTok, can worsen this mindset.
Tiktok has just exploded over the last year. First seen as Music.ly’s replacement, the platform has become its own unique thing and has just under 700 million users worldwide. It’s home to a range of content: singing, dancing, comedic sketches, room tours, daily routines, and fan edits.
A recent trend on Tiktok is listing things you like about humans. It’s done in a way that sheds light on details that we don’t pay too much attention to.
Photo via Pinterest
If I’m being completely honest, when these TikToks first appeared on my feed, I was tempted to scroll right past. As mentioned before, the on again off again lockdowns have made it difficult to see the bright side of the world. The lack of routine and constant fear has turned me into a cynical person. It’s hard to think of humans in a positive light when all you need to do is open the internet and see the pain and destruction we’ve caused.
I was part of the population that thought dogs were better than people. But I decided to give it a chance, after all, it’s only like 20 seconds of my time.
It was a pleasant surprise (although I still firmly believe dogs are the better species). These TikToks describe our actions as something worth celebrating because they are “cute.”
They allow us to see our everyday behaviours in a new light, one that is appreciative and grateful.
They urge us to find the wonder in the mundane.
The trend originated with user @peachprc, who made a TikTok about how we give each other jewelry. She relates it to “decorating” the person we like. We give them jewels, silver, and gold, dressing them up to show them our feelings.
Another thing she loves about humans is how we dance, we essentially “start moving to show other people that we are enjoying the sound.”
Many other accounts have followed suit, listing their favourite traits about human beings. User @braydnedwards mentioned how people will open a birthday card with money and just ignore it as they read the message out loud.
It’s easy to forget the arguably cute qualities people, as a whole, possess. When our lives are filled with only the bad, it’s hard to see the good.
Photo via Pinterest
Yes, there are so many people who do crappy things, and the world often feels like it’s lost its magic. But if you change your perspective, you can find wonder in the most routinary and uneventful events.
I’m not saying that humans are superior and all people are free of sin. I’m simply giving you some positivity for your mundane Monday (or whatever day of the week it is, it always feels like a Monday in quarantine).
After watching these TikToks, I felt inspired to compile my own list of little things I love about humans. If your faith in humanity these days is dwindling, maybe you’ll feel compelled to do the same?
Image by Claudia Minardi // THE UNDERGROUND
These lists remind me of being in elementary school before the Thanksgiving weekend, when the teacher would have you write down all the things you are grateful for. In a way, we are expressing our gratitude towards our species and understanding what others do that makes us feel good.
With that being said, there is scientific proof of the benefits being grateful has on the brain. Positive Psychology cites that our brain “releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’” when we are grateful. These neurotransmitters have an immediate effect on our mood, meaning the happiness we will feel is instant.
They go on to explain that if we “[practice] gratitude everyday, we can help these neural pathways to strengthen themselves and ultimately create a permanent grateful and positive nature within ourselves.”
In the age of COVID-19, it can be especially difficult to maintain a positive attitude and look back on happy memories. It can also be hard to build relationships of any kind, seeing that we are all stuck inside and put our social lives on the backburner (for the betterment of society, of course).
However, a report by Harvard‘s Medical School says how expressing gratitude can help “people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Additionally, the report details the various ways we can feel and show our gratitude, including fondly looking back on the past. This can take the form of “retrieving positive memories and being thankful for elements of childhood or past blessing.” The present can also be a lens to channel our gratitude, such as not taking advantage of our good fortune. Lastly, we can show gratitude by looking forward to the future, while keeping an optimistic attitude.
The TikTok trend fits in with these methods, as they are finding another way of expressing gratitude for the human race. By listing the little things that are frequently underappreciated, we are staying positive and reflecting on the good instead of the bad.
“Regardless of the inherent or current level of someone's gratitude,” the report states, “it's a quality that individuals can successfully cultivate further.”
Photo via Pinterest
Harvard’s Medical School recommends a few other ways of expressing gratitude in our daily lives, including writing thank you notes, keeping a journal to track what you are thankful for, and even meditating.
In a Science Daily article, it is cited that depression rates in adults have nearly tripled, compared to statistics before the pandemic. Counting our blessings can help improve our mental state, especially during such a fragile time.
Psychology Today even says that “over time, feeling grateful boosts happiness and fosters both physical and psychological health, even among those already struggling with mental health problems.”
The article explains that there is evidence to show that “practicing gratitude curbs the use of words expressing negative emotions and shifts inner attention away from such negative emotions as resentment and envy.”
The trending TikToks may seem like a wholesome fad and nothing more, however, they are actually a stepping stone to maintaining a positive mindset and warding off unwanted negativity in our lives. When this pandemic is behind us, we can express our gratitude alongside our families and friends. This will help us bond and strengthen our relationships.
For now, isolation has given us time to reflect and be grateful for our past, present, and future. There are health benefits to doing so, but mostly, it can help us keep our chin up when the world keeps pushing us down.