Ask Dr. J - This Too Shall Pass

Published in the July 2026 Edition
By Janan Broadbent, Ph. D.

I write this early on July 4. Extreme heat alerts, thunderstorm possibilities, pollution due to an incredible number of fireworks to be used in Washington, DC creating health hazards, and all of the turmoil we have been living in recently do not bring on a celebratory mindset. But since when did negativity produce joyful times?

Sunflowers seem to bring on a feeling of hope and positive thoughts. Maybe that is my biased perception, but I welcome such uplifting albeit short-lived vibes, because it is only through keeping hope and connecting with one another that we can get to the other side of the current chaos. I hope that, dear readers, you all experienced the joy, the fun and the mischief the World Cup attendees brought to our shores. I have recently come across actual research that shows attending a live sporting event changed people’s level of anxiety, loneliness and sense that life is worth living. It didn’t matter if it was a local match or an international one and even watching on TV yielded similar results.

So it is important to be with others as we navigate difficult times, when our concepts of equality, justice and fairness are being challenged. The human mind and body seeks homeostasis, a state of balance, not instability. Living with anxiety and fear diminishes our capacity to feel energized, to experience all the positives life can offer. Our most impactful weapon to counteract that is connecting with people – people we know well and care for, or even people we meet and share some good times with. Those long-term or even temporary connections restore our inner balance.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Dr. Broadbent offers individual, couples, and family therapy, specializing in relationship issues between couples, interracial and cross cultural relationships, families, and businesses, in addition to conducting workshops on topics such as stress management, communication skills and assertiveness. To reach her, visit drjanan.com