Caroline and Alonzo, boyfriend and girlfriend, wear face masks together on Santa Monica beach as they see each other for the first time since safer at home orders went into effect amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 13, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Credit: Amilcar Orfali/Getty Images)
The “journey mindset” could prove to be a useful tool for coping with stress and tragedy during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.
Thinking in terms of a journey rather than a destination can help virus survivors and health care providers cope with post-traumatic stress, the researchers say.
Such a mindset can also increase the likelihood that people who learn measures for protecting themselves against the virus—and future contagions—will continue to practice those behaviors.
“As we think about navigating COVID-19 and how it has impacted our lives, a focus solely on the destination can result in a lot of frustration…”
At its core, the journey mindset is about personal growth in response to challenges, points out coauthor Jennifer Aaker, a professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. “Looking back at negative experiences as well as positive ones fuels progress moving forward.”
In addition to her work with Szu-chi Huang, also a professor at the Graduate School of Business, and research that she and colleagues published in 2019 on learning from negative experiences, she cites psychologist Stephen Joseph’s 2011 book What Doesn’t Kill Us: The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth (Basic Books, 2013), and research in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks that shows how soldiering through a catastrophe can lead to personal transformation.
“The people who experience moderate to high levels of post-traumatic stress following a crisis are also the ones who grow the most psychologically as a result of the trauma,” Aaker says.
“This finding is surprising because we so often hear about post-traumatic stress leading to PTSD. But that’s only part of the story. Those who grew were those who were able to make meaning out of tragedy. They dug deeper into themselves to make sense of what happened and how it changed them, which corresponds to research that Aaker has done on how negative experiences stimulate comprehension and boost meaning.
Survivors’ ability to find meaning in trauma could be augmented by adoption of the journey mindset, which can be taught through a regimen of guided visualization, diary-keeping, and other exercises.
The researchers also have contemplated the use of new technology, such as artificial intelligence applications that would learn from users and provide useful feedback and reinforcement during the journey.
More broadly, Huang thinks that visualizing personal progress and valuing small accomplishments along the way could help to sustain those who might otherwise lose hope of ever returning to their normal everyday lives.
“A journey mindset helps us focus on the incremental changes and growth we accumulate along the way.”
“Having a journey mindset can help,” Huang explains. “As we think about navigating COVID-19 and how it has impacted our lives, a focus solely on the destination can result in a lot of frustration, because if a problem is not solved right away and we fail at reaching our destination, all seems lost.
“A journey mindset helps us focus on the incremental changes and growth we accumulate along the way. Perhaps we are connecting with old friends and family more. Perhaps we find a different way to get work done. Perhaps we learn how to cook at home. Perhaps we pick up a new hobby. All of these are skills and lessons that we can carry on even after COVID-19.
“Once people learn how to best cope with these challenges, the journey mindset can reinforce such growth and thus sustain people’s mental health in the future—especially when future triggers or stressors occur.”
Aaker says that as we head into the longer struggle to overcome COVID-19 and return to normal life, it’s important for people to reflect back on the first few months of the outbreak and note what they’ve learned about themselves and others from getting through the experience.
“The journey mindset is about the continuation from our past meaningful successes and failures to the present moment and into the future,” she explains. “Success does not exist in isolation—it has a past and it needs to be sustained into the future.”
The researchers also emphasize that the pandemic journey cannot be completed alone, and that we need others to support and challenge us.
“Learning how to leverage our family and friends helps us sustain our goal success,” Aaker says.
When people get to the point where all they want is to ignore or avoid social information, as documented in research that Huang published in 2018, it is by reaching out and staying connected to their social network that they can regain the motivation to move forward.
The researchers also emphasize that it’s important to recognize that the journey may turn out to be far longer than envisioned if COVID-19 turns out not to be a crisis with a clear-cut resolution, but rather a harbinger of a future in which people increasingly will have to cope with pandemics. If that’s the case, they say that the lessons learned and progress achieved through the journey mindset may help people survive what is to come.
Books Improving Attitude and Behavior from Amazon's Best Sellers list
"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones"
by James Clear
In this book, James Clear presents a comprehensive guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones. The book includes practical advice and strategies for creating lasting behavior change, based on the latest research in psychology and neuroscience.
Click for more info or to order
"Unf*ck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers"
by Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN
In this book, Dr. Faith Harper offers a guide to understanding and managing common emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety, depression, and anger. The book includes information on the science behind these issues, as well as practical advice and exercises for coping and healing.
Click for more info or to order
"The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business"
by Charles Duhigg
In this book, Charles Duhigg explores the science of habit formation and how habits impact our lives, both personally and professionally. The book includes stories of individuals and organizations who have successfully changed their habits, as well as practical advice for creating lasting behavior change.
Click for more info or to order
"Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything"
by BJ Fogg
In this book, BJ Fogg presents a guide to creating lasting behavior change through small, incremental habits. The book includes practical advice and strategies for identifying and implementing tiny habits that can lead to big changes over time.
Click for more info or to order
"The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning, Elevate Your Life"
by Robin Sharma
In this book, Robin Sharma presents a guide to maximizing your productivity and potential by starting your day early. The book includes practical advice and strategies for creating a morning routine that supports your goals and values, as well as inspiring stories of individuals who have transformed their lives through early rising.
s
