Experimental Diversity!!! What's That?

[Dr. Shane]

One of the most difficult issues during the pandemic was being trapped in the house.  As a construction worker building infrastructure, I was deemed an essential worker and allowed to keep working.  As a project manager, I was required to drive between projects which allowed me to search various stores for highly sought items like cleaners and toilet paper.  Many people were trapped at home and while that provided them protection against the virus, it harmed their mental health. 

A recent study discovered a correlation between experimental diversity and happiness - at least temporary happiness. (Heller, 2020)  What is experimental diversity?  That means doing new things and going new places.  It means having diverse experiences.  It is exactly the opposite of sitting at home during a quarantine. An amazing thing that was discovered is not only did positive feelings develop on the day a person was experiencing something new, the feelings continued until the next day.  There was a feedback loop.  This creates a type of upward spiral.  It is like the exact opposite of depression which causes a downward spiral.

So, how can we Christians put this to use?  Getting involved with new church activities and rotating roles.  Get involved with the Pathfinders one year.  Then get into Men's Ministries or Women's Ministries the next year.  Then get into prison ministries.  Then get into community services.  Then work with Adventist World Radio.  Look for missionary trips you can go on.  Pathfinder camporees.  Attend campmeetings and church conferences.  Go ingathering and Christmas caroling.  Sing at a nursing home.  Visit the sick in the hospital. Stay busy for the Lord.

 Heller, A.S., Shi, T.C., Ezie, C.E.C. et. al. Association between real-world experiential diversity and positive affect relates to hippocampal–striatal functional connectivity. Nat Neurosci23, 800–804 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-0636-4

[Morwenna]

I think you might mean experiential diversity. The diversity of having new experiences, versus new experiments. 

Great ideas, good thoughts! I wonder also how we as Christians can help others to have those new experiences: especially those that may have been affected so deeply by the past 3 years of staying at home, keeping themselves distanced from the virus. Many of our elderly family members and friends have lost friends and loved ones to the virus. The ones who remain are seeking new experiences and new friendships--a great opportunity for those in the church to invite their neighbors to join a community of believers! 

Maybe some organized day trips to local parks or community events. Walking together, providing safety in numbers. Small social gatherings in homes (for dinner and a movie). For younger, more able individuals: bicycling days, pickleball tournaments, swimming?

I do think getting involved in new church activities is a great idea for one's own mental health! And rotating roles might even spark a newfound skill!

Good thoughts, Dr Shane!

 

 

[Dr. Shane]

13 hours ago, Morwenna said:

I think you might mean experiential diversity. The diversity of having new experiences, versus new experiments. 

Yes.  You are right.  The citation I provided proves you are right.  Sometimes my fingers go too fast for my brain to keep up.