When an entire nation becomes superheroes
In the photo - Volunteers in The Civil kidnapped Headquarters. Photo taken by Amir Mayblat
Yesterday, many of you celebrated Halloween, an enjoyable holiday I really like.
As a costume enthusiast who also enjoys hosting parties, I teamed up with my husband last year to organize a Halloween party for our friends at our place.
We created an atmosphere with decorations such as creepy spiders, spooky pumpkins, lots of candles, and gory body parts. We even went all out with snacks and costumes. Mori was dressed as a bloodthirsty butcher, and I dressed as my childhood superhero, Sandy Olsson from Grease.
But this year, given the horror that has befallen all Israelis, including me, since October 7th, a Halloween reenactment of a horror film doesn’t feel appropriate or fun.
Instead, I find myself reflecting on the endless inspiring examples of real-life superheroes among us. All those individuals harnessing their inner strengths, turning them into superpowers, embracing hope, and showing remarkable resilience in the face of the genuine horrors they are experiencing.
The actions of these genuine superheroes radiate love, care, and support to those who are currently feeling vulnerable and in need. They cast a beacon of hope and inspiration in the midst of this profound darkness, filling me with optimism.
Their actions vary from securing temporary housing for the evacuated families to arranging funerals for the victims.
From rescuing animals that were left in the war zone, to providing delicious meals for the hundreds of thousands of dispersed soldiers.
From gathering furniture, clothes and toys to those who lost all their belongings, to offering free self care practices such as yoga, sound healing meditations and ice baths to the survivors of the horrors.
Practically every Israeli I'm acquainted with has been taking action and contributing to support others in this ongoing crisis. I've never witnessed such a level of coordination and solidarity before.
What's truly amazing is that by taking action and doing a meaningful act of kindness, those people are not only supporting others, but they're also helping themselves by contributing to their resilience and well-being.
The reason is that engaging in a purposeful activity transitions you from a sense of helplessness to helpfulness, which is particularly important during adversity.
Furthermore, in “The How of Happiness”, Sonja Lyubomirsky writes:
“Acting kindly often relieves guilt, distress or discomfort over others’ difficulties and suffering and encourages a sense of awareness and appreciation for your own good fortune”.
Indeed, focusing on someone else helps us forget about our own troubles.
Acts of kindness offer another significant advantage: they highlight our abilities, skills, and resources, resulting in optimism and a heightened sense of control over our lives.
Lastly, helping those in need strengthens our connections with others, which is one of the most important factors for well-being.
Now that we've established that engaging in acts of kindness is a central activity for enhancing resilience and happiness, here are some tips to maximize its effectiveness:
Prioritize activities that align with your values or enable you to utilize your skills. Is cooking your thing? Cook a meal for an ill friend. Do you enjoy spending time with pets? Walk the neighbor's dog while they're at work.
Ensure you're going the extra mile, stepping out of your usual routine. If you already have a favorite organization you donate to, find something else to do, such as helping a colleague who just moved to unpack.
Be mindful of the frequency of your actions - doing too little won't yield substantial happiness benefits, while doing too much may result in exhaustion and overburdening.
Spice it up and vary your actions to prevent them from becoming habitual or routine activities.
So, what is it going to be for you? Babysitting a newborn, giving a couple of precious hours of rest to his mother? Donating clothing to the local homeless shelter? Providing free tutoring to your neighbor’s child? Or perhaps, organizing a charity event for your favorite non-profit?
No matter what your choice is, be it minor or grand, recognize that you instill purpose and meaning into your life, and illuminate the world during its moments of darkness.
And if, for any reason, you find yourself unable to take action at this moment, even though you have the willingness, don't be disheartened. I'm confident that when the time is right, you'll discover your own path to contribute to others.
As Martin Luther King stated: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
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