This first half of the year has been chaotic with so much world-wide negativity. It has become harder to maintain a positive mindset, so how can that be improved?
More than half the year has passed and yet so much has happened in that window of time. From natural disasters, politics, escalating violence, and an increased fear for the people’s safety.
Many are calling out how Alligator Alcatraz is a sign of what’s to come in the future. The treatment of detainees, the tight security, and the positive advertising of it are all contributing to its popularity.
It is asinine how much has occurred so far in this year that it is no wonder that more people are growing dissatisfied about how helpless they feel. World-wide negativity is over-consuming, and it’s difficult to feel happy knowing what’s happening everywhere.
Yet even with how depressing the situation is, there are ways to cope with the situation and help regain some form of autonomy during these scary times.
1. Find others to talk with
Learning how to verbalize your feelings and thoughts out loud helps you to understand your intense emotions. First with yourself so you know how to put your experiences into words to share with others.
Opening up with others allows you to feel heard, receive advice, and release all your emotions. There are a few things to consider when opening up to others, depending on your situation and your intentions.
- Choose the right person to talk to.
- Choose the right time to talk.
- Find a therapist, even if you’re not mentally ill.
- Give yourself an endpoint.
- Talk about the good as well as the bad.
It’s importantant to find the person you feel most comfortable confiding in and how much you’re willing to share. Be considerate of when and where you share with others and what the intent of sharing is.
Remembering that an endpoint ensures the conversation doesn’t derail too far from its central point. Make your intentions clear to the person you’re sharing with to avoid misunderstandings on if someone is asking for a solution to their problems or just venting.
2. Set small goals
Setting goals for yourself to help you progress is essential, but don’t get lost focusing solely on the big goals. The small steps to reach that goal are also worth recognizing and celebrating.
Take a step back and be honest about your current habits and find how you can realistically challenge them. Whether it be academics, physical activities, etc., find the means of accomplishing those small feats with the resources you have around you.
Don’t be afraid to be flexible when following goals don’t go as intended, adapt to the changes and make sure you aren’t overexerting yourself. It’s central to find what you can accomplish and work toward the goal, even if the impact isn’t as widespread.
3. Reduce news consumption
Keeping up with the world news is valuable, but there comes a point when it becomes too overwhelming. It is perfectly okay to take a step back from news coverage if your mental health is at risk.
Continuous negative coverage pollutes your mind and thoughts, creating feelings of helplessness. For some, they can find the strength to keep living their lives, but others grow unmotivated watching events play out with no real direction of how to approach the problem, or even if they can.
Our screens have shown an abundance of violence, natural disasters, political debates, and court cases, both globally and locally. The news’s captivating nature dominates conversations, often leaving too much information to process at once.
My mother restricted her news consumption because she reported more depressive episodes seeing how unjust the world was. I took her advice as there are moments when the world is too much and I feel like I’m in perpetual danger.
4. Create your happiness
You need to find your own source of happiness, whether it be a hobby or hanging out with others. You need to find your happy place to keep you centered when things feel dark.
One interest that has been gaining popularity in Gen Z culture is practicing religious none ideologies. Finding their own faith in a higher power without limiting themselves to one central figure. Using their new found faith to embrace their inner goddess energy to find spiritual fulfillment to tackle moments of hardships.
Finding the silver linings in every day living is a challenge, but is rewarding when discovering the good buried underneath. A positive psychology specialist shared her opinions on finding happiness during the hard times through her experience of recently losing her mother.
However, when we are talking about sustainable contentment, especially during difficult times, my energy is invested in seeking to create and discover the good, the upside, or the silver lining in each day.
Lisa Cypers Kamen
How you decide to find your source of happiness is up to you, as what reignites that feeling into someone can be totally different depending on what it is. Just remember to follow what helps you best rather than what others may define is best.
I recently attended my cousin’s bachelorette party on their friend’s ranch. Despite not leaving that spot for two days with limited internet access, it was still the funniest time I had in awhile being in a new surrounding with fun, sociable people.
It gave me a break away from the world around me and let me enjoy the present with the ranch lifestyle and doing activities I haven’t ever done before with funny pictures I look back on and smile.
5. Find your pace
Remind yourself to take time when coping and that the path isn’t linear, Only you can decide how you want readjust yourself. The length of your mental recovery depends on how you are left after the chaos of this year.
You can’t move on with the instability of the world if you don’t feel strong enough to put your foot forward. Whether to just continue living or to step up to combat the uncertainty filling the world through action.
You can’t compare your healing journey to others. Your journey is yours alone. A counselor specialist in survivors of DV shared her insights on healing at your own pace.
Instead of focusing on what you haven’t achieved yet, focus on what you have.
Catrina Drinning-Davis
It’s okay to still experience hard times; it’s a part of the journey. Just remember to find your pace of adjusting before putting yourself into action. You understand what helps you best to cope, so don’t beat yourself up too much.
Rediscovering your smile
The world right now carries a heavy weight of uncertainty that leaves us vulnerable and unable to smile without guilt. Yet we still should maintain autonomy over our situation and work to regain our happiness.
By simply speaking out about what’s happening and how we are feeling can free our repressed emotions and channel them elsewhere. Through whatever process we need to go through to unpack these events and establish small goals to keep us on track.
The news will always be there, but taking mental health days from nonstop watching is important. Prioritize yourself before others; you’re no use to others if you don’t feel ready to confront the darkness.
Don’t feel ashamed for smiling during these times it’s important to hold to the good moments so we can build up the strength to confront the fear permeating the world. And if you eventually build enough strength to help fight against the injustices, then do it.
Don’t be afraid to be a symbol that can help others receive hope; just showing our voices will inspire others that there are things worth fighting for.
