The world is a dark place of suffering at any given time of the day. You sit down to relax at the end of a long shift and you'll turn on the news to catch up. Only, there isn't news. The news we know it as today is more of an international obituary column.
France is on fire, the Middle East's death toll continues to climb, America's gun laws fail again as man opens fire on a public school, and the UK's economy plummets to impossible lows post-Brexit decision.
How are we to stay hopeful in a world of constant bombardment with death and suffering and great need for help?
1. Accept that bad things happen and often they are far from our control
Worry all we can, but fear and anxiety will not solve or fix the world's problems. Sometimes you just have to accept that there are people who are doing their best to try and fix the world. We have the World Health Organization (WHO) and OXFAM, both organizations doing the worrying for you. Whatever your goal in life is at the moment (student, employee, parent, or other), focus on that.
2. Know that you are doing as much as you can
The very fact that you worry for the world is a good sign that you're still breathing. You do care and you hope the world softens its edges. Sometimes, that's all we can do is hope and pray.
3. Deep breaths
Sometimes stopping and doing some deep breathing can help you process the state of things. Try this when the world seems very heavy.
4. What if your need to help is pushing you to action but you don't know where to start?
There is no more noble a pursuit than wanting to help others. And your community gets that. That's why there are organizations like Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity who are always looking for volunteers and employees.
If you're thinking more local and specific, try VolunteerMatch or Idealist, which helps you find volunteering opportunities and internships that directly help impact your local community.
And it all else fails, just ask around. A lot of local religious centers and non profits in your area need help but may or may not advertise it.
5. Kindness can change your and other's days
Just holding the door for someone or helping someone with their groceries can really put a pep in everyone's step. A little kindness goes a long way. I know that I personally have been brought to tears by other's kindness when I was at the lowest points in my life. Being kind is just as simple a small gesture.
6. Self Care
Lastly, there is self care.
For those in the business of news, social work, social justice, and human/civil rights, sometimes the world can make you nihilistic and tired. I personally have to take periodic breaks from social media. So what can you do if all else has failed?
Self care.
If you're not familiar with self care, let me provide a definition.
"In health care, self-care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated." - "Self Care" Wikipedia.
Self care is an act of emotional, physical, and mental health care that maintains peace as well as bodily function. It's something commonly known in therapeutic circles, but not to the average neurotypical person.
And if you need some ideas, here's a list of 80+ different self-care suggestions.
And lastly,
