How are you guys doing?? Man, I wish I had more time to write these days; the world seems to need positive psych more than ever. I think I started writing the below post three weeks ago, and it now seems totally outdated, but I want to share it anyway. I hope it helps you think about what you’re feeding your mind and soul from a content perspective while the world remains in a state of flux. I’ve sprinkled throughout some images of what life mostly looks like for me right now: slow, quiet, but filled with beauty.

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I’m seeking out very different types of content these days. My normal rundown includes The NYTimes “Daily” podcast and Netflix shows like Vox’s “Explained.” But with a newly-grown aversion to the news, I find that I’m seeking out content that is specifically positive, escapist, spiritual or artful in nature. Last Sunday, I listened to a one-hour feature on Weird Al Yankovich, and that felt like an unusually good use of my time. What I would usually consider a somewhat frivolous story, I found to be filled with relatable humanity and rich with normalcy. I think we’re all craving a bit more human and a bit more normal in today’s virtual-heavy, upside-down world.

Weird Al aside…

Here’s the type of content I’m leaning toward in this time 

Poetry

To me, spending an afternoon with a small book of poetry is like spending a few hours in an art museum. It’s special in its novelty. It’s leisurely. It’s frivolous in a way, in that it is generally not directly applicable to the goals you’re working toward at a given moment. 

But it is a soothing reminder of the vast range of human experiences and emotions. It is slow media, one that demands nothing but your quiet pondering. You see reality through the lens of someone else’s interpretation, whether that helps you see a new perspective or find solidarity in a shared one. I’ve been really liking: 

• Pablo Neruda, via a book of love poems purchased from a bookshop in Paris 

• “The Slowdown” a 5-minute daily poetry podcast 

• Rupi Kaur, via her second book of poetry “The Sun & Her Flowers,” which I’ve read and reread many times in my life (mostly when falling in or out of love). For quick hits of her work, follow her on Instagram at @rupikaur. 

• Mari Andrew’s Instagram; she does a kind of word poetry / watercolor art that is very poignant and reflective of our generation’s voice. Follow @bymariandrew.

Distraction

I am not typically one for escapist media, unless it’s Game of Thrones or a great fiction novel. I try my best to avoid mindless consumption of content like reality TV and hours of mindless Instagram scrolling. But right now, I’m finding light, bubbly entertainment to be exactly what I’m craving. Like champagne for the soul. I want my media as far away from the heaviness of life as possible. So for me, that’s been looking like shameless deep dives into: 

• Love Island (UK), season 6

• Exploring TikTok and starting to follow awesome dance, fashion, food and humor creators 

• “Bad on Paper” podcast

Good news 

If you’re not looking for it, it might surprise you that good things continue to happen in the world, within the context of coronavirus and outside of it. There are some incredible things happening to our planet’s climate while most of the globe shelters in place and what feels like an unprecedented surge in celebrating and supporting our collective humanity. I encourage you to proactively seek out this type of media, as it likely won't come to you on its own. Think of it as a complement to your daily gratitude practice: 

• Follow Good News Movement on IG (@goodnews_movement) 

• Silver linings of COVID articles

  • Harvard Health: Is there any good news about the coronavirus pandemic?

  • Stat News: Early peek at data on Gilead coronavirus drug suggests patients are responding to treatment

Spiritual books

I’ve been a fan of this genre for the last few years (see reviews on Why Buddhism Is True and The Untethered Soul), and now is the perfect time to be feeding the soul with this type of deeply nutritious content. Slowing biting off chunks of...

• Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now”

• Pema Chodron's “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” 

Daily delights

Although - yes - I too feel like we’re living in an endless loop of the same 24 hours, I’m trying to sink into the simplicity of the days and appreciate the slow, calm beauty of a life stripped down to the essentials. Nourishment. Movement. Connection. Rest. I’m finding the following particularly beautiful: 

• So many flowers! I know it feels like “sometimes between March and August” (heard on SNL, too true), but it’s actually SPRING! Roses are bursting into bloom everywhere, wisteria is cascading from so many building facades, and I picked up a bright, fresh, custom bouquet at the farmer’s market last week. My heart is so full with all the beauty I encounter on my daily walks. 

• So many puppies! Is it just me, or did everyone in your neighborhood decide to get a puppy in quar? I hope for your sake that they did, because I don’t go a single day without seeing tiny labs, golden retrievers, doodles, and more. I regularly see a pair of baby golden doodles rolling around in play-fight while their new owners chat at a safe distance. It’s joymaking like nothing else. 

• Clap for healthcare at 7 pm; my neighborhood explodes at 7 pm daily with banging pots & pans, whistles, cars honking, blaring horns, neighbors hanging out their windows to clap and wave and connect with one another from afar and share in collective gratitude for our frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic. Start this in your neighborhood if it doesn't exist yet!

• Sticky note messages in windows; these always make me smile, and I especially appreciate the folks that change up their message regularly. Something about this taps into that deep well of need for human connection, and makes me recognize it in others.

Parting thoughts

But perhaps the most important / central thing I’m thinking about these days is how I want to remember this period of time, when we were all forced to live life in the slow lane. 

I’m thinking about how this is a great time for us to collectively practice central tenets of positive psychology and mindfulness. The hedonic treadmill will have you believe that only after global quarantine is lifted will you be happy. Only when you’re able to see your friends again and plan a weekend full of new restaurants & concerts & etc will you be happy. We are all guilty of this mentality outside of the parameters of a global pandemic.

But so few of us are ever satisfied, even when our families are safe and fed and well, the economy is chugging along and we get to spend our free time at our absolute leisure. Think back to your life three months ago. You were not bursting at the seams with joy at all times - you had worries and concerns then too. You weren’t satisfied then either. So when will you be?

That may sound harsh, but I think the answer lies in deciding to find joy in any life circumstance you find yourself in. Even now. Even with so much suffering. Asks yourself repeatedly:What is still good and worthy of celebrating in your own life?