Dear Past Self,
I wish I could tell you that here, in the future, everything is rainbows and unicorns and perfectly seasoned guacamole. Unfortunately, the world is not like that. Crazy things will happen in your lifetime: there’ll be natural disasters and political disasters, terrorism and nationalism, murder videos on live t.v. and towns without drinking water.
When these events happen, Past Self, it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes the state of the world can be so stressful that it makes you want to curl up in a bed and not come out.
Moreover, even if you do make it out from under your covers, the problems can feel so intimidating, that you are paralyzed into not taking any action at all.
The thing is, Past Self, is no matter how big the problem is, it’s always better to be doing something than nothing. No matter how small you may feel, I can guarantee that taking action will not only make you feel better, but will contribute toward some positive change (even if you can’t see it right away).
But what action do you take? How do you both take care of yourself and help people affected by these massive events?
After some experience, I’ve found that some stress management/disaster response techniques work better than others.
For example: it turns out that your uncle’s strategy of watching cable news on repeat while eating copious amounts of salted snacks shockingly doesn’t work that well.
Another stress reaction can often be to totally tune the world out for an hour (or ten) by distracting yourself with mindless entertainment.
Sadly, this often doesn’t work out quiet as well as one would hope.
But even though totally ignoring the world doesn’t often work, getting too involved in the news can also be a trap. After a certain point, reading more news articles loses it’s value and just becomes more stressful than helpful.
So what can you do in the face of these enormous, intimidating events? Especially if you’re not in a position to hop in a plane and fly across the country or the world? Well, Past Self, fortunately the only answer is not to go hide in a cave (at least, I hope it isn’t). It turns out that even doing small things can help the people that need it, and also help you feel better. With a few clicks, you can contribute to positive change by donating to a worthy cause (note: changing a Facebook picture does not count as a donation).
Will your small donation change the course of history? No. But remember: you’re not donating alone. You’re joining thousands or even millions of other people who have managed to pull themselves out of bed and donate as well. And together, those donations do make a difference.
But donation isn’t the only action you can take, Past Self. While you can’t be there for everyone in trouble, you can reach out to people you know who might be affected. And while a text can be meaningful, I would advocate for the old-fashioned art of a voice-on-voice phone call.
You’ll be surprised at the difference this can make to people in your life. Again, you’re not able to save everyone, but you can help somebody.
And there are ways you can help beyond your computer and phone. Volunteering at a local organization–even one not directly related to the disaster–can be helpful. Especially since many regular volunteers will be distracted by what major disaster has just occurred and may not be volunteering in their usual positions.
Even if it’s just joining a local community clean up, you can use these events to inspire you to make a positive change in the world beyond your computer screen. And really Past Self, that’s what I’ve found to be the core of reacting to these major events. You can either let them bury you, or you can use them as motivation to actively make the world a better place.
And, if you need a few binge-watching sessions now and then, that’s o.k. too. Sometimes, it can be nice to stay in the cocoon for a while before going out in the world.
I hope this helps you deal with some of the craziness in the world, Past Self. If I come up with any more tips, I’ll be sure to let you know!
Best,
Present Self