Bear Psychology Podcast

Feeling TIRED during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Well, there are good reasons why you feel this way.

We will start by acknowledging what is happening, learn about reasons why COVID Tired is occurring for so many of us and include ideas of how to deal with the fatigue in meaningful ways. From parents working full-time while educating, cleaning, cooking and entertaining a family; medical professionals who spend time donning PPE to keep themselves and staff safe; or grocery store staff left with the task of ensuring carts are wiped down and shoppers wear masks...we are all feeling more TIRED during this COVID-19 Pandemic. Let's also remember how exhausting it is emotionally to deal with the uncertainty of health, jobs and finances right now.

Are you frustrated with having to continuously wash your hands, wear masks, wash down groceries, use hand-sanitizer until your hands are raw? Well, you are not alone and have joined a growing number of people feeling this way in what is now recognized as "Caution Fatigue".

There are many reasons for an increase in anxiety, fear and depression during this this time that naturally lead to feelings of exhaustion. Whether you have lost a family member, friend or acquaintance due to COVID-19 or are fearful of getting ill yourself. Whether you are engaged in Self-Learning, Working from Home, not working and not studying (bored silly?), living in a tight space where there is no quiet, feeling job insecurity or trying to start your career with no prospects. Perhaps you are losing/lost a business/home or sense of freedom, financial worries, or preparing for a retirement that has now been put on hold because of the COVID-19 Pandemic – these can all create a draining feeling that is difficult to shake. There is also a sense of loss about all the things you used to love to do or at least ways in which you filled your time, or helped you feel like life was meaningful? Are these activities still possible or MUST you look elsewhere for feelings of fulfillment? These are other sources of demoralization that often lead us into a tired, run-down feeling. Let's start by just simply acknowledging that this is true for us, it is really happening and our exhaustion is not our fault or imaginary. You are in good company with so many others who are trying their best to cope in this difficult time. Stick around for strategies, tips, tools, and solutions to challenge this feeling of exhaustion!

Links & Resources:

• Are You Experiencing Coronavirus Quarantine Fatigue?

• Feeling exhausted during the pandemic? This philosopher says you could have moral fatigue.

• Some of us have more time to sleep. So why are we so tired?

• RAIN: recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture.

• RAIN: A Practice of Radical Compassion.

• WHAT ARE RAIN PARTNERS?

Books to read:

• Man's Search for Meaning (1946) by Viktor Frankl

In this episode we pay attention to the deep and traumatic roots of Black Lives Matter and unpack the layers of how to respond effectively as individuals and within communities. I dialogue with mental health professional, Ornge trauma team lead and anti-racism trainer, Tom Walker.

After the murder of George Floyd the public outcry continues to be a powerful voice that is awakening the world to the injustice of systemic racism that so many have turned their backs on for too long. At this critical moment while witnessing continued acts of social injustice and violence against Persons of Color – it is important that we take pause to understand what it means to Bear Witness while engaging in right action moving toward meaningful solutions.

I am personally in awe of the continued courage and persistence of those directly participating in the Black Lives Matter protests happening in the U.S. and around the world. Those who are putting their voices and actions forward, are speaking out clearly about what has to change in our perceptions, in our daily actions and in the way we create societies that will truly respect and include everyone with dignity and equality.

It is no doubt, hard for many to focus and listen deeply to the painful voices of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. There is much shame in "white privilege" and there is longing for some to turn away. It is important to address one's own views and be uncomfortable with the reality of racism in our lives. This is the moment to grapple with the reality of our inaccurate perception of being "nice normal folks, in a nice normal world". This is simply not always true, and with this limited perspective we may fail to see the experiences of friends, neighbours and colleagues that are confronted with racism every day.

We discuss and explore:

1. Why #Black lives Matter accurately represents the issue and Why "All Lives Matter" phase is a distraction.

2. What #Defund the Police, actually means and how it could benefit all including policing services. Michael Moore does a great job explaining this. Also related is "8 Anti-Racism Policing Policies that cannot wait".

3. What the Anti-Racism Experts like Reni Eddo-Lodge, Robin DeAngelo, and Resmaa Menakem (author of Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence" ongoing.org) have to say.

4. What White Fragility is (Robin DeAngelo coined the phrase) and knowing when it strikes.

5. Using "Love, Kindness and Wisdom" to help us through this. Resmaa Menakem provides incredibly meaningful guidance on this.

6. Why Anitifa is NOT the same as #Black Lives Matter and why you need to know this.

Anti-Racism Resources:

Resources for white parents to raise anti-racist children:

• Books: Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults

• Podcasts: Parenting Forward podcast episode 'Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt'

• Fare of the Free Child podcast

• Articles: PBS's Teaching Your Child About Black History Month

• The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon

Articles to read:

• "America's Racial Contract Is Killing Us" by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)

• Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists

• "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant" by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)

• The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine

• The Combahee River Collective Statement

• "The Intersectionality Wars" by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)

• Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD

• "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh

• "Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?" by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)

Videos to watch:

• Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)

• "How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)

Podcasts to subscribe to:

• 1619 (New York Times)

• About Race

• Code Switch (NPR)

• Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw

• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

• Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)

• Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)

• Seeing White

Books to read:

• Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

• Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper

• Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

• How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

• Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold

• Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

• Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

• The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs

• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

• This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga

• When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

Films and TV series to watch:

• 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

• American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix

• Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent

• Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent

• Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix

• Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent

• I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy

• If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu

• Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent

• King In The Wilderness — HBO

• See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix

• Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent

• The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent

• The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax

• When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Organizations to follow on social media:

• Antiracism Center: Twitter

• Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Black Women's Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• NAACP: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• RAICES: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• SisterSong: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

• United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

More anti-racism resources to check out:

• 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
• Anti-Racism Project
• Jenna Arnold's resources (books and people to follow)
• Rachel Ricketts' anti-racism resources
• Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism
• Save the Tears: White Woman's Guide by Tatiana Mac
• Showing Up For Racial Justice's educational toolkits
• "Why is this happening?" — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie
• Zinn Education Project's teaching materials

"The most terrifying thing is to accept yourself fully" – Carl Jung

We'll start by recognizing that we are much more than the surface image we present to others while at the same time exploring why for many, we guard our interior world so very carefully, in fear that others will see us for who we really are.

It begs the question – Who and what are we really guarding from others, and why? We will discuss what happens when these facades break down, and what we can see more clearly. By breaking down barriers within ourselves we can give permission to see our vulnerabilities, our strong emotions, our deep desires and our drives.

When these deeper drivers create problems in our lives, it can create a cycle where we feel an instant dread or hate towards what lies deep inside ourselves. What kinds of relationships do we create if we see something in others that we despise only to discover it within ourselves? This is your Shadow.

You are MORE than these barriers to YOU... Recognizing the deeper layers of who you are and the unconscious drivers in your life, allows your true personality to shine through.

From a psychological point of view the Shadow is a part of your personality (an unconscious part) that we resist recognizing or admitting to. This is the part of us that would say "not me, I didn't do it, or I hate it when others do it" whatever "it" is. The Shadow will likely be something that someone in our life is telling us we are guilty of that we do not want to know or see. This "it" might be perceived as positive by some, and negatively by others.

By integrating this "it" and knowing how it exists within us, can free up of much of our own inner battles. If we wish to grow in our self-understanding, we should know how the Shadow lives within us so we can either embrace it or work with the impulse to hide it as it surfaces with a full recognition of the power it has in our responses or reactions.

In our day-to-day world, we often trade on platitudes such as "it will be Ok; don't worry; get over it". These superficial responses often find us feeling alone and misunderstood. This is especially the case when we feel what is deeper within us pushing to the surface for the breathing space letting us face and witness our Shadow.

Opening the door to this journey to meet our Shadow may be our biggest step towards growth. While it is filled with fearful self-examinations that we may want to continually reject, we are being propelled to look beneath the surface time and time again to meet who we truly are.

Links & Resources:

Shadow Work Journal – by Jessica Cross (2015): https://bit.ly/2zftl5p

Shadow Work Guide – by Scott Jeffrey (2017): https://bit.ly/2WU1Rv0

Dr. Gerald May – "The Dark Night of the Soul" 2005: https://bit.ly/2ZshcVn

Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/3eaLiAK

Carl Jung and the Shadow – The mechanics of your dark shadow: https://bit.ly/36x2Rsg

Jordan Peterson in integrating the shadow: https://bit.ly/2zrqRAJ

Emerald – Shadow Work Explained – Jungian Psychology: https://bit.ly/2ZuTVlF

Ernest Becker –Immortality Projects & his famous book The Denial of Death: https://bit.ly/2XiDsOI

We have all lied at some point, and have likely been hurt by others lying to us. Wonder why do we all do it? Why do some people lie compulsively? Have you ever felt a need to lie to pretend things are better than they are or even to gain power or protection? Have you ever felt ashamed of believing a liar or have been badly injured as a result? We have all been there! Let's talk about this complex issue and explore the Pain, Power and Purposes of Lies. We will discuss the motivation and consequences of lying; how to spot a liar; types of liars; and when lying seems like the right thing to do. Let's take the time to chat about how we make sense of the issues of lying and even learn to spot when we are using lying ourselves (perhaps it's automatic; a response to when we feel uncomfortable or want someone's approval). We will also explore the concept of "Firehosing" , that involves huge amounts of lies being pushed out, and making it difficult to see the truth beyond the misinformation. It's primarily used to maintain power and to deliberately deceive. Most often used in a political context, it can leave people overwhelmed by the misleading and confusing information. And before we all start to feel that we are to blame and shamed by lying – let's talk about and put into perspective how common dishonesty is and part of how we navigate our world with others. Somehow, lying is a deeply ingrained mechanism in our makeup of who we are.

Our best bet to managing it, is to realize that it is here and to see it clearly and call for what it is.

We addressed the impact on first responders/front line workers everywhere with two experts Dr. Brad Lindell of NC-CM and AAETS ( http://www.nc-cm.org/biobradlindell.htm ) and Daniel McGuire of CISM Perspectives (https://www.cismperspectives.com/). These include emergency room staff, doctors, nurses, clinicians, mental health practitioners, pharmacy staff, grocery staff, those still serving food/drinks, maintenance people, construction workers, and all the people out there showing up to help us continue to function, live, and deal with the demands of this world right now. This is an incredibly demanding time, those on the front line are seeing things and experiencing struggles that cannot be compared with anything that has come before. There are strong feelings of fear, uncertainty, anger, frustration, grief, confusion and more. I realize that the struggles will continue beyond the end of the Pandemic for those who remain distressed over what they have witnessed, experienced, lost and fought during this time. This will start to show weeks, months and years after the impact. For now, I believe we all need to be part of the conversation and try to help in ways that allow for open dialogue and figuring out what helps most. There are many things that we know make a difference in managing the daily stressors that you might find useful from the resource link page HERE I will be adding to it regularly with updated materials, suggestions and ideas. Whichever organization you belong to, it would be good to create virtual Town Halls where those on the front line can address their issues and inform those in roles of management. There is so much that is unknown and so much that front line workers need to teach us in order for those in positions of leadership can make the best choices to address the overarching demands and needs during this time of crisis. We all need to listen and stay connected, even when we are physically distant.

How are you managing in this new COVID World? "the hope that something good can come out of this collective state of "together, apart."– Elena Nicolaou, Mar 19, 2020 Things have changed so rapidly that everyday life seems like "a surreal life". I walk to work and the streets are empty, I enter my building and no one is in the elevator. I arrive at my floor, open my file cabinet and begin to see clients – although now, every interaction I have is online or by phone. I cancelled all my social plans and now I have Video Zoom dinner parties, visit with friends and family by phone and email, text and chat through WhatsApp. I just realized that if my efforts for creating a social network were not strong before this, I would be truly suffering as I am a social being and I need to feel close to others. These ways of connecting are not the same as the warm hugs and direct smiles I might be used to but they do make a difference. They keep me feeling connected somewhat. Dealing with COVID stress There are so many people out there trying hard to make a difference and share resources that can help us all. No country or citizen is immune to the potential impact of this disease. Yet, from what we are seeing there are places in the world like South Korea and China where rapid actions have led to a quick handling of this Pandemic. We need to stay open to learning from those who can help.

• Recommendations for stopping the spread
• Big changes need to happen to change the course of COVID-19 – What to do
• Clear Warnings
• Hamilton Doctor Warns us in Ontario of what is coming and how clever the virus is.

Managing COVID-19 STRESS There are many ways to manage the stress of this new COVID world, join us as we discuss this.

• Take a Media Diet (seriously limit the amount of time you read, or watch COVID related content)
• Exercise more (even if this means chair exercise, walk about your apartment/room/house/neighbourhood) – always keeping in mind social distancing
• Take a class on line (right now there are so many programs and online classes that are launching to address the needs of millions of people experiencing quarantine or social isolation) – I took a live yoga class through Instagram Live (but you can meditate, learn to knit, join a book club, etc).
• Use this time to do the projects you have wanted to catch up on
• Reach out to a friend or family member who you have not had time for
• Letter from Dr. Hollenstein to his students after classes are closed due to COVID
• CAMH on COVID
• Free irest meditations to help right now

HOW ABOUT SOMETHING HOPEFUL? Stay Hopeful with Inspiration – Kitty O'Meara – "and people stayed home" https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a31747557/and-the-people-stayed-home-poem-kitty-omeara-interview/ REMEMBER THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD POURING ALL THEIR CREATIVE AND INTELLECTUAL ENERGY, TIME, MONEY IN SOLUTIONS. WE ARE RACING FORWARD WITH ANSWERS. Some useful resources:

• For more COVID-19 information on CDC click HERE
• For information on the rolling COVID-19 updates by WHO click HERE
• For more information on managing COVID-19 stress HERE

More Meaningful Link:

• Letter from Dr. Hollenstein to his students after classes are closed due to COVID HERE
• CAMH on COVID HERE
• Free irest meditations to help right now HERE

What is loneliness: Why is it so bad now? In the age of technology, we are more connected than ever, so why do many people still struggle with loneliness? First, let's define loneliness. Loneliness is need of human connection but not being able to have it. It is a subjective experience and is not the consequence of being physically alone. If you feel lonely, you are lonely. Loneliness occurs when someone perceives their relationships as not fulfilling their social needs. Dr. Andrew Wister from Simon Fraser University believes social media may be partly fueling loneliness by creating a false sense of multiple connections. The list of friends you turn to for social needs is much smaller than your friends list on social media. What are the negative results of loneliness? Chronic loneliness is not only emotionally draining; it is a physical health risk. Researchers have likened loneliness to being as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Interestingly, brain imaging studies show that social rejection (loneliness) activates the same brain areas as physical pain. Those who are chronically lonely experience anxiety, depression, and may feel physically ill. Loneliness can also be a vicious cycle. Those who have been lonely for long periods of time become better at noticing social cues but are worse at interpreting them. To make matters worse, the person experiencing loneliness is more likely to interpret social cues negatively making them feel more isolated. Check out Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection by neuroscientist John Capiocco and author William Patrick for an in-depth look into the effects of loneliness. Are you lonely? How do you deal with this? It is important to accept that feeling lonely is a normal human experience, and there is nothing wrong with you if you experience feelings of loneliness. If you tend to prejudge people's intentions as negative, or assume social situations are going to go terribly, you may be lonely. Taking time to reflect upon previous interactions with people is helpful in parsing out the negative from the positive. Not every interaction is negative! To build social connections it is imperative to get yourself out there. Go to an event you've wanted to go to, or invite someone out for a coffee. If someone reaches out to you, try stepping out of your comfort zone and go with them. Even if a lasting friendship doesn't emerge, you will have succeeded in practicing your social skills which are useful for future connections. Expert in the field, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad discusses living in a lonely world here Some useful resources: Loneliness: The Silent Health Crisis Loneliness is literally killing us Loneliness Loneliness: the silent killer

Setting Yourself Up for Success

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit" – Will Durant

The year 2020 is upon us and it marks the end of the decade. Millions of New Year's resolutions will be made; however, the 8% success rate shows we just don't know how to stick with them. We want to share with you the psychology behind starting new habits, changing old habits, and staying motivated. Think of this as your toolkit for setting yourself up for success – not just in January, but every day!

Making behavioral changes:

Habits are conditioned responses, and so to create new habits or change old ones, we must identify our cue that stimulates undesired behavior, and then change our response. Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit states simply we must pick a small action, pair a new habit with an existing habit, and make it relatively easy to do, at least in the first week. Here is a short video clip about identifying the habit and changing your response.

Story-editing:

Another great way to change behavior is by changing your self-story through story-editing. Your self-story is your personal narrative about who you are that guides your behavior. Dr. Timothy Wilson, an expert on story-editing says we should write out our existing story paying special attention to behaviors that conflict with our goals. Next, revise your self-story to incorporate things you would like to change. This reflective writing task can have a profound impact on our personal narratives and instill positive change.

Here are some tips for staying motivated and keeping those changes:

• Write down your goals
• Prepare for set-backs
• Stay positive
• Don't forget to reward yourself

"Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart" – Roy Bennet

Now that we have addressed making changes, how can we succeed holistically in the New Year?

Starting your day off right and making meaning in your life

• Engage in gratitude each morning
• Prepare for your morning the night before
• Engage in activities that make you happy
• Take care of your body and mind

Some useful resources:

For more information on staying motivated click HERE

For information on the types of motivation click HERE

For more information on starting your morning off right click HERE

For more information on making meaning in your life click HERE

For more information on why some New Year's resolutions don't work click HERE

Holidays can be a stressful time of year. There is pressure to make the perfect dinner, give a great gift, spend time with family members you don't see frequently, and plan fun family festivities. All of this can leave you feeling stressed, depressed, lonely, fatigued, and underappreciated. The holiday blues is a term that accurately describes the mixture of unpleasant emotions one feels over the course of a seemingly joyous time.

Not only can the holidays leave you feeling depleted, you may also be left with an depleted bank account. All too often families feel the need to impress one another with fancy gifts and dinners. Another reality is that people may not have much to offer to begin with and are splurging on each other at this time of year out of guilt.

You are not alone:

Holiday blues and overspending polls:

Although the majority of people surveyed reported feeling happy and in good spirits over the holiday season, however, feelings of sadness, stress, and fatigue still come up.

"38% of people surveyed said their stress level increased during the holiday season. Participants listed the top stressors: lack of time, lack of money, commercialism, the pressures of gift-giving, and family gatherings."

Another survey shows 53% of people think the holidays will put a financial strain on them. Also, 20% of people enter the holiday season with no plan to manage their spending.

Factors that contribute to holiday stress

• Unrealistic expectations
• Poor coping mechanisms such as drinking which ultimately leads to more stress
• Unresolved conflicts in the family
• Not setting or sticking to a budget

For more factors that contribute to holiday stress and depression click here.

Managing holiday stress and overspending:

The good news is that holiday stress and overspending can be managed. You can take control of your holiday and turn it into a well-deserved vacation instead of a dreaded time of year.

• Discuss expectations with loved ones
• Engage in meaningful activities with your family
• Stay active, exercise can help manage emotions
• Volunteer with an organization and give back to your community
• Practice mindfulness
• Avoid impulse purchases
• Track your spending
• Recognize your coping mechanisms for stress, if they seem negative seek help

Dr. Beth Rush a neuropsychologist with the Mayo Clinic highlights three ways to reduce holiday stress in this short video clip.

Some useful Resources:

Talks about being mindful: Click HERE

Good resources for managing stress: Click HERE

Also has good coping strategies: Click HERE

Coping with financial stress: Click HERE

Neuropsychologist from Mayo Clinic talking about reducing stress over the holidays. Click HERE

Happiness is something many of us strive for using all the wrong approaches. We distract ourselves looking for the next big excitement, numb ourselves so we won't feel emotional pain, seek pleasure in purchases, chase status in position or gaining influence or power and treat ourselves with food that we are not hungry for. Anyone who has achieved fame, fortune, status eventually recognizes that more things and more fame do not create any sense of lasting happiness.

So what is happiness and does it make any sense to chase it down?

I have certainly had many moments of happiness in life but I notice that "happy" is an elusive state that comes and goes sometimes in unexpected ways. I can never pin down the state of happy but I do notice that I often find calm, content or neutral states frequently present when I let go of expectation or insistence in certain outcomes of achievement. What about you?

What do you think happiness is? Can you pin it down? When are you most at peace, content, calm? Is this a more realistic state?

Positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky elaborates, describing happiness as "the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile." https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness/definition