Strategies for Positive Coping #3: Infusing Meaning

Positive Coping

Researchers have identified categories of strategies that are called “positive coping”(1) – meaning they use positive emotions as part of getting through difficult times. Some of these strategies include problem-focused coping, planning positive emotion, and infusing positive meaning in daily life.

Infusing Ordinary Events with Positive Meaning. In addition to seeking out moment of positive emotion, researchers have found that infusing a deeper sense of appreciation or meaning into daily life events can help people cope with crises. In the same study of caregivers, researchers found that many people were giving new awareness to otherwise ordinary small moments – such as receiving a complement for something minor or noticing a beautiful flower. As we’ve already mentioned, allowing and honoring painful emotions is a crucial part of coping – so ignoring these feelings in an attempt to simply “look on the bright side” is not productive. However, good things occur even during the most difficult times. This crisis is calling forth many things from people, including resilience, creativity, sense of community, and more. Noticing the good in the moment can have benefits down the line.

 A simple exercise to help grow this skill to write down at the end of the day three good things that happened. These can be small – maybe you listened to a song you love, maybe it was sunny when you went for a walk – or large – maybe your loved ones are healthy, maybe your sense of community is growing. Simply writing them down ends the day on a grateful note and builds appreciation of those good things throughout the day.  

Primary Reference: Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2000). Positive affect and the other side of coping. American psychologist, 55(6), 647.