This past week, we lost yet another wonderful human being. The last year has been marked by so much loss, the cumulative grief can be overwhelming sometimes. Between the massive loss of life from COVID-19, the tragic losses from violence, political and civil unrest, the numbers can ignite such incredible sadness it is hard to think about 'well-being'. But, for those of us still living, the lessons Ed Diener has left behind for all of us are even more important now, during these incredibly difficult times.
Ed Diener was a prolific researcher in the area of Positive Psychology - a man who passionately pursued a scientific understanding of what it means to live a good life. His research wasn't, and isn't, about 'happiness' in the way most people think of it - smiling, laughing, enjoying good times. His research sparked decades of empirical studies that have helped us recognize that living a good life, experiencing 'well-being' is about a more holistic approach to the realities of life - the good times and the bad, the laughter and the tears, the easy moments and the challenging ones. All of life, with the positive AND negative affects (moods) make us who we are, and help us define what a good life means to each of us.
Diener's work inspired other scientists to investigate these complexities of the human experience we refer to as 'living a good life'. Much has been learned about the good life, about well-being and thriving, as a result of the foundational work Ed Diener began, and we all, scientists and humans, all, owe him our gratitude for it.
What Diener taught us is too complex to write about in one blog post, but I can tell you that he helped us recognize that some of those catchy phrases we may have heard from our older and wiser family members ring true when tested empirically (and of course some don't). Difficult times are a necessary part of life, and help us experience the good times, the fun times with greater appreciation. Life challenges make us more humble, more appreciative, and more resilient. Life without difficulties, at least some, is not a life fully lived. Challenges help us grow as human beings, to develop strength and confidence, to inspire creativity, to cultivate compassion.
Now, I recognize that this past year has been, as I have often referred to it, a real SHIT SHOW. Our experiences are varied, our challenges unique, but at the core is the same shit show we have all been forced to deal with in our own ways. A pandemic, civil unrest, political chaos, and all of the financial, emotional, and mental outcomes that result from them.
I am certainly not suggesting that the work of Dr. Ed Diener and others, my own work included, suggests that the immense challenges of the past year are fodder for developing resilience, creativity, or compassion.
Our experiences this past year have, for many, been about sheer survival. So please, don't think I am making light of the difficulties of the past year, of our present circumstance, or of the near future that will still be ripe with challenges. I am, however, taking time now to remember the incredible work that Dr. Ed Diener has done, to honor his life and his work, and to encourage each one of you to recognize that this awful shit show will be over at some point, and we can embrace our lives in a fresh new way, regaining our social lives, reducing our stress (hopefully), and finding happiness despite the experiences we have endured this past year.
Thank you, Ed Diener, for inspiring us all to be our best, to do work that helps us develop a better understanding of a 'good life', and for modeling the incredible value of living a life filled with purpose.
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