Or to use an analogy, it seems more likely that a person would succumb to despair looking up while standing at the base of a mountain, as opposed to while the climber has already climbed up halfway. Then again, one might surmise that consistent with the report finding, after going through an awful first two days of the week, the realization that yes, life is really as bad as it's perceived, and this engenders a feeling of doom.
It's interesting that the article notes that the real driver is ultimately job-related. I suppose it's something I never really thought about in detail, but the whole construct of five days of labor and a two-day happy respite is something that exists only because of our tradition of the five-day work week punctuated by two days of no work. I'm sure my view of work influences my attitude towards each day of the week. If I lose sight of work being toil, but at the same time something which God has provided as a means of both mission and purpose, my dread should diminish.
I'd like to think that a healthy, balanced and Biblical view of work would remind me that my job is something that can and should be a venue of worship and of ministry. I can honor God by having the fruits of my labor contribute to something redemptive and by embracing the relational aspects of my work. C.S. Lewis once spoke of the importance of every human interaction - that there was no neutral ground, but rather a weight of importance that brought the other person closer to eternal glory or monstrosity. Of course, I also work to provide for my family. But instead of being crushed by the pressure of these responsibilities, can I instead be freed by the knowledge of God's sovereignty over all of these things and rejoice that He has already secured me a treasure which is imperishable, even if my job is not?
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