Meaning in suffering

25/1/13

The suffering in Syria continues to escalate and put pressure on it's people, but in a conflict that doesn't seem to have any point, a meaning has been found.

In a report to be published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, it was found that "higher levels of worry, stress, and anxiety were linked to higher meaningfulness but lower happiness."

According to the report, a happy person is one who has "more pleasant than unpleasant emotional states," so happiness has likely been a rare emotion since trouble began in Syria. The U.N estimates that 2.5 million people have been displaced within the country, 612 000 have fled, and 60 000 have been killed in a 22 month civil war where the country's leader, Bashar al-Assad allegedly has troops bombing hospitals and doctors. It's a conflict that makes you shake your head and ask "what kind of life can these poor people live?" Thankfully the authors of the report believe that a lack of happiness is no barrier to achievement:

"Although these individuals may be relatively unhappy, several signs suggest they could make positive contributions to society."

There seems to be too much senseless violence in the world over the last decade, but just because there is less happiness isn't necessarily a bad thing:

"happiness without meaning characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed or even selfish life, in which things go well, needs and desires are easily satisfied, and difficult or taxing entanglements are avoided."

So when happiness decreases, rest assured that meaning in your life is increasing.

As the suffering in Syria increases, the happiness of it's people decreases, but all hope is not lost; with increased suffering, comes increased meaning.

In a report to be published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, it states that happiness and meaning in life are not essential for the existence of the other, in fact the report says that "higher levels of worry, stress, and anxiety were linked to higher meaningfulness but lower happiness."

Over the course of the 22 month Syrian civil war, the United Nations estimates 2.5 million people inside the country have been displaced, over 612 000 have fled, and more than 60,000 have been  killed. Jordan has just called for emergency international aid as they are struggling to care for the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who are fleeing the country as their leader, Bashar Al-Assad's forces drop bombs on hospitals and doctors, so there are few other battles in the world today that seem to have less point.

Pointless suffering has been an all to common feature in international affairs over the last decade, but as we shake our heads and ask "what's the point?," this report helps us to find the answer.

"happiness without meaning characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed or even selfish life, in which things go well, needs and desires are easily satisfied, and difficult or taxing entanglements are avoided."

When we struggle, it's hard to find the point of our misfortune, but where happiness wanes, meaning endures.