With all the ugly things that are happening around the world, just about everyone is struggling to function at near-normal levels. It seems as though every day, we’re barraged by more information and images that shock and horrify us, but we don’t have the luxury of withdrawing and processing the anger and grief we feel.
Instead, we’re expected to keep on going as though all is well, while fully aware of global injustice, corruption, and suffering. How can we possibly come to terms with these horrors without being sucked down into the darkness?
1. Start by reducing your media intake.
The first thing we need to acknowledge here is that the world has always been full of horrors: we just haven’t been as aware of them as we are now. Today, we have the ability to tap into images and videos of atrocities occurring worldwide in real-time, rather than reading a few words on a page.
In our school history books, we read phrases like “somewhere between 150,000 and 750,000 people were killed when Carthage was destroyed in 146 BCE”, and then we moved on to the next paragraph without truly recognizing how horrifying that massacre must have been. We don’t have photos of that long-ago war, so it doesn’t affect us the way contemporary media does.
If you feel that you’re too overwhelmed with despair because of the traumatic things you’re seeing or reading about on a daily basis, cut back on your media intake. This includes social media, where you may be exposed to things that have the potential to damage you.
Doing this doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person or a coward for looking away: it means that you’re performing vital self-care so you can focus on taking care of those closest to you.
2. Recognize that there are far more good people out there than bad ones.
Terrible news is much more captivating than positive stories, and therefore, it draws more attention. As a result, most media outlets share mostly awful things in order to increase their viewership. This can offer a skewed view of things, implying that horror is the baseline standard of the world.
This isn’t true at all. For every person who commits an act of violence, there are thousands of individuals who are taking care of others, protecting children, rescuing animals in need, planting community gardens, and being sincerely good to their friends and neighbors. Focus on those who are kind and loving, read stories about the good things going on all around you, and share these pleasant, hopeful stories with others in turn.
3. Look for the helpers, and support them however you can.
Mr. Rogers was an American children’s entertainer for nearly 40 years. He drew upon his mother’s advice for dealing with scary or overwhelming world news and counseled the children who watched his show to look for the helpers during times of trouble. “You will always find people who are helping.”
As mentioned above, there are far more good people than bad out there, and a very brief web search will show you countless individuals who are doing what they can to help people in need.
Some people are capable of going out into the field and supporting these people with their own efforts, while others can do their part by spreading awareness and offering financial support when possible.
4. Counteract the darkness with your own acts of kindness.
Each of us has a set of skills that can be put towards acts of kindness and service to others. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the darkness in the world, taking action against it with acts of kindness, love, and generosity can go a long way towards dispelling feelings of helplessness.
We can’t necessarily help those who are experiencing immense suffering in other countries, but we can do small acts of kindness that mean the world to those around us. Volunteer at your community garden or library if you can, cook meals for friends and neighbors, maybe take in foster animals to care for, or make blankets for shelter critters. Whatever gives you a sense of purpose and personal control, do that.
5. Focus on the things you can control.
None of us has much influence on global powers, so we can’t control their actions — especially overseas. What we can control, however, is our own behavior and our immediate surroundings: our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Keep your surroundings as clean and tidy as possible, as cluttered, dirty areas have a dampening effect on our spirits. Additionally, cleaning itself can be cathartic and can keep your mind focused on the tasks at hand, rather than spiralling out about the horrors of the world. Organize your closets, preserve fresh produce by canning or dehydrating food, and take action to be prepared in case of an emergency. These actions can bring you immense calm and peace of mind in the midst of external chaos.
6. Spend time outside.
Being out in nature is immensely grounding. Beyond that, there’s something new and beautiful to see out there every single day. Each season brings a wealth of gorgeousness to bask in, whether it’s new flower growth and baby animals in springtime or the resplendence of autumn foliage.
In addition to the beauty that can be seen, getting outside has a great influence on our bodies and minds. Sun exposure helps with our vitamin D levels, fresh air is invigorating, and soil microbes can help to boost our immune systems. Furthermore, the sounds of birdsong, wind, and waves (if you live near water) are immensely soothing to frayed nerves and dampened spirits.
7. Surround yourself with beauty.
Do you have a list (either mental or physical) of beautiful things that bring you joy? I have Pinterest boards full of gorgeousness ranging from kitchenware and clothing to home textiles, art, and color combinations. If you have anything of the sort, draw upon these bits of beauty and make a point of bringing them into your life as often as possible.
Paint your walls in bright, cheerful hues if possible, or add vibrant drapery and textiles if you can’t. Adorn yourself in clothing and accessories that bring you joy, listen to great music, read poetry, fill your space with plants and flowers, or get some new artwork framed to hang on your walls. You spend so much time in these spaces, so if you can, aim to fill them with things that warm your heart and brighten your spirit as a balm against the encroaching darkness.
8. Balance awareness with inspiration.
It is important to remain informed, but it’s just as important to counterbalance the awareness of darkness and cruelty with things that inspire you. When you feel that you’ve absorbed all the horror you’re able to tolerate for a while, turn your attention towards something inspiring that can help to counterbalance the awful feelings the horrors have inspired.
Watch a documentary about the wonders of the universe to broaden your perspective about space and our place in it. Check out shows in which people live as though they were in the Tudor or Victorian era to see how far we’ve come, or binge-watch a few seasons of Bake-Off to get inspiration for new recipes, while observing how amazingly sweet complete strangers can be towards one another.
9. Accept that it’s only by facing darkness that we can strive to overcome it.
Human nature has many facets, and darkness is part of all of us. It’s a sad reality that there has been cruelty and darkness on this planet for as long as we have walked upon it. But it’s often by looking away that the shadows can grow and by casting light upon them that they are lessened.
Being aware of the terrible things in the world gives us an opportunity to address them and put them to rights, even only a little bit at a time. It’s rather like how lifting up rocks allows us to see the grime and rot beneath them, which is really quite awful, but that’s the first step in actually cleaning it away.
Casting light on ugliness is difficult, disturbing, and occasionally traumatic, but it’s far better for these things to be drawn into the light than to allow them to remain in shadow and thereby grow unchecked.
Final thoughts…
While it may be tempting to turn away from the world’s horrors for the sake of personal peace, it’s important to remember that the main reason why these horrors are permitted to continue is that good people choose to ignore them.
It’s only by witnessing and acknowledging these awful things that we’re informed enough to be motivated to change them. None of us can fix the world’s problems individually, but small actions done by large numbers of people can lead to monumental change.
