A sad state of affairs

Re “The miracle of melancholia,” Opinion, Feb. 17

As a recent UC Berkeley graduate, Eric G. Wilson’s article struck a nerve. The Pew Research Center survey whose results said that almost 85% of the American people consider themselves “very happy” or at least “happy” was a telling reminder that many people refuse to acknowledge that the U.S. as a nation needs to check itself. We are embroiled in a money-draining military occupation that has made us more vulnerable to terrorism; the economy is in a particularly fragile state, facing enormous competition from other nations and economic blocs; and, possibly most important, the United States no longer enjoys the unprecedented superpower status it once held. As dreary as these notions sound to the average American “happy person,” perhaps accepting them as cold truth would give the people a bit more strength and character, and more humility to come together and stick through the very real challenges we are about to face in the next generation.

Nicholas Herron

Newport Beach

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Wilson is correct that unpopular emotions like sadness serve to give us important information about ourselves and the nature of life. But that’s only half the story. Once we’ve benefited from those needed insights, then what? Is it possible to move forward? And if so, how do we do that?

Wilson chides Americans for our “collective yearning for complete happiness,” but he misses the point behind that search -- our hunger to know how to master the ups and downs of our lives. Many people have never learned the skills to move from suffering to contentment in a healthy way, and we ache to know.

Yes, melancholia has its upsides, but rather than champion one emotion over another, why not embrace them all? Maybe if we knew how to take charge of our emotions, we’d ultimately find the satisfaction we seek.

Darlene Mininni

Northridge

The writer, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, is the author of “The Emotional Toolkit.”