We Need To Start A Happiness Epidemic

Hopelessness and despair are robbing us of happiness and people.

I talked to a college professor this week who mentioned that suicide is becoming accepted and glorified among college age people. This is so sick and broken on so many levels. How dare we create and accept a society that robs people of hope!

Buying into thoughts of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair, and giving yourself permission is acceptance of our and society’s failure. We are masters of our own destiny and the commitments we make shouldn’t be laced with escape clauses. We and our society have to stand up for being agents of creating our best lives and world.

People celebrating image by Sujoy on PixaHive.com

Many people around the world (such as India in the image above) make poverty wages, but are still happy. This needs to be our baseline, having enough to survive and be happy. Then work to make our dreams come true.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is [b]easy and My burden is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

Depressive behaviors are going up

“Suicidal thoughts and behavior among minors jumped by 287% between 2009 and 2018. During that same period, those tendencies increased by 210% among 18 to 34 year olds. Alcohol-related diagnoses spiked by 37% within that decade, while substance-related diagnoses skyrocket by 94%.” https://www.salon.com/2021/05/21/diseases-of-despair-deaths-usa-inequality/

According to Statista.com, “… depressive disorders are regarded as the leading contributor not only to disease burden and morbidity worldwide, but even suicide if not addressed. … risk factors, relative to developing mental disorders including depressive and anxiety disorders, include bullying victimization, poverty, unemployment, childhood sexual abuse and intimate partner violence.

There is no doubt that economic problems are a cause of misery and hopelessness. We need, with a unified voice, to solve this early in this century instead of turning our backs on them and dragging theme problems through this century. During economic downturns, corporations and investors make record profits while people lose their jobs, homes, families, dreams, and lives. This should be an ethical outrage. We need to work hard on this problem. – https://www.statista.com/statistics/665354/number-of-suicides-india/

Gun violence caused by hopelessness

For decades studies have shown us that many people strike out at others when they become hopeless. People fired from their jobs, students bullied in school or left out, people who watch terrorist inspired videos until they have to find an outlet for their frustration … they pick up a gun and shoot others to make a statement. We need to change these things.

What we can do

We often fool ourselves into thinking that there is no answer, so we feel hopeless. If we reach out, we find help.

“Numerous studies show that therapy is often able to help those experiencing hopelessness regain their hope and achieve lasting mental wellness.” – Good Therapy Blog

Remind yourself that there likely are answers, you just have to reach out to others to find them. We’re all in this together. Ask help in finding solutions from a family member or friend, or call a help hotline or organization.

9 Things to Do If You Feel Hopeless.

Once in a while I would get depressed and feel hopeless about monetary issues. My Mom and Wife would both recognize what was happening and talk me through it. We found solutions.

Take up the burden and start a happiness epidemic.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 (NASB)

Take Home Points

There are answers if we search for them.
Stop focusing on what you don’t have, and focus on what can be – a long future.
Reach out to others for help. There are answers.
Be the answer – get involved in helping others, such as volunteering.
Start a happiness epidemic.

Keep in mind from my last article:

Gratitude has many health benefits.
The people around us can drag us down. It’s best to select people to be around who aren’t toxic but who lift you up.
Other people mostly want to be helpful. Let them be part of your life.
Be careful not to complain. Complaining drags us down. Change your focus from yourself.
Various activities can make us feel happier such as smiling, petting an animal, physical activity, and taking courses on our wellbeing.

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“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NASB)