Got the Blues…and I'm Happy 'Bout It!

Who knew the key to happiness was sadness all along?

That is, at least to author Eric Wilson. In his new book entitled "Against Happiness-In Praise of Melancholy" Wilson explores ways in which sadness is actually beneficial to achieving happiness.

Wilson states that by recognizing what makes us truly sad, we can pinpoint what makes us equally happy. Likewise, when we allow ourselves to be melancholy, we fully appreciate it when we become joyful.

Say you're having a wonderful day... Your hair looks good. You're feeling skinny. You just finished a great book. Now say you're at work and your boss compliments you on a job well done. Although this feels really good, it's not likely to make a huge impact on your mood -- since you were already in such high spirits.

But now imagine the exact opposite... Your hair belongs in Glamour's "Don't" section. Your jeans won't zipper all the way. The 500 page book you just finished was a complete waste of time. When your boss tells you that you did an excellent job on something, chances are you'll be so much more appreciative to hear something uplifting.

The natural ebb and flow between these polar opposite emotions creates a balanced tension to be happy about.

Wilson argues that today's society is overly-medicated with anti-depression pills and treatments meant as quick-fixes. Rather than accepting these feelings of sadness, we are pumped full of drugs to make them go away. Now in some serious cases, medication is necessary, and he's not suggesting people walk around with unbearable sadness.

However, what if Vincent Van Gogh had been on Prozac? Do you think he could have created masterpieces without the rage and sadness he experienced? And imagine Earnest Hemmingway doped up on Zoloft. Chances are the sun would have set on the "The Sun Also Rises."

More people need to embrace their mild sadness rather than ignoring it. Otherwise, we're doomed to lead a life of unexamined emotions that could be stinting our creativity AND happiness.


Holley Simmons reporting!