An earthquake in Morocco.
Wildfires in Canada.
Flooding in Manhattan.
A pandemic.
More terrorist attacks.
Another war.
The barrage of bad news feels endless. Every headline, every talking head on TV, every push notification on our phones, or panicked Instagram reel or TikTok shouting, “Pay attention to THIS too!”
It seems like there’s always one. More. Thing.
I’m not revealing any deep industry secrets when I say your therapists don’t have all the answers to the depth of pain and suffering that exists in the world. We’re human and feel it deeply, just like you. What I and my colleagues can offer our community is a safe place to feel deeply. A safe place to process, cry, and express any fear, anger, sorrow, or absolutely anything at all that might bubble up.
Humans, tragically, have a capacity for evil and hatred. This has always been true. We also have a tremendous capacity for beauty, love, and joy, and this has also always been true. When the bad news feels like it’s everywhere, you are not doing harm by finding moments to care for yourself and your loved ones, and you can do so and still recognize the privilege that comes with living in relative safety. It’s normal and beautiful to want to bear witness and find a way to help, and it’s ok to protect your spirit. Find solace in music and food. In delicious, fresh seasonal fruit. Follow Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo and now lives in Central Park, or the massive brown bears of Alaska, or the Monterey Bay Aquarium otter webcam. Watch The Office for the 37th time. Find community and check on your friends who may be especially hurting right now.
Limit your social media or delete it completely. Set limits on your news consumption, and definitely don’t look first thing in the morning or right before bed. Go outside and experience the beauty of this world and our amazing home state – remind yourself that it still exists. Plant flower bulbs and feel the deep hope that is helping something grow. Bake. Donate money, supplies, or time to causes that are important to you. Find meaningful work. Take walks. Move your body. Cry if you need to. Create something, anything. It doesn’t have to be good. It’s the act of creating that is healing.
Don’t lose your humanity. Don’t lose touch with the parts of yourself that are most needed right now.
“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
-Pirkei Avot
Photo Credits:
Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash
Photo by Stefan Kutucu on Unsplash
