As I write this blog the World feels like it’s falling apart. Just this week I have read headlines of Trump waging war in Venezuela, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and most recently the unlawful cold-blooded murder of Renee Nicole Good by ICE officers in Minneapolis, to name but a few. When faced with the current state of the world, it is hard to have hope that things could ever be better. Your light may feel dimmed by sheer exhaustion, and the hopelessness of not knowing what you could do to affect change.
An original song written by Kata in the aftermath of Good’s murder and shared on his social media (@thekatamusic) sums it up perfectly: ‘when will it end? When will we start learning. I’m not 17 and it’s still the same yearning.’ I’m not here to offer simple solutions or quick fixes as, to be brutally honest, there aren’t any, but I do hope to offer some suggestions for what you can do to remain hopeful and protect yourself, so you have the strength to keep going even when the darkness feels overwhelming.
Lament
I want to start by stressing that is ok, and natural even, to feel angry or upset by events we see on the news or in our own lives. Lament is Biblical. In fact, there is an entire book dedicated to lamentations of people expressing their deep grief and despair as they long for things to get better. We hear this same cry in Psalm 13: “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Naming these feelings, and the situations that cause such emotional discomfort, gives us power and agency over them, helping us validate both our emotions and why we feel them so strongly.
Boundaries
While lament is natural, the act itself can be as exhausting as the situations on our hearts and minds. With that in mind, my first piece of advice is that in this modern world where we have unlimited access to global affairs at our fingertips it is crucial to have boundaries in place to protect ourselves. It is not healthy to constantly consume news and information (good or bad) and we need time to switch off and focus on ourselves, those around us, and the things that bring us joy. Boundaries will look different for all of us, and we may feel the need to adapt them at various times in our lives, but they are important for our mental and emotional health. Boundaries are not avoidance, but rather an act of self-preservation. Some examples of boundaries to consider include limiting screentime, choosing not to listen or watch certain channels, or carving out time in our days to switch off and do some self-care, something creative, or spend time with our loved ones. Another suggestion could be to find a source of positive news stories (like the appropriately named Positive News) that shares the stories that are often overlooked in the mainstream media and can offer some much-needed hope that all is not lost.
Nourish Yourself
With boundaries in place, my next piece of advice is to be mindful to continue to nourish yourself and spend time on things that replenish your spirit. Before we can seek to try to make the world a better place and banish the despair, we need to ensure we are not pouring from an empty cup. So often in our state of lament and frustration we can be so focused on others and the world around us that we lose track of ourselves, and this can be harmful. Nourishing ourselves can be as simple as ensuring we are eating and drinking properly throughout the day, taking any required medication and taking care of all our basic physical needs but it can (and should) be fun too! Are you an artist? A musician? A writer? A sportsperson? A baker? Do you love going for walks and being out in nature? Do you like going to the theatre or watching a certain film or tv show? What are those things that make our heart sing and make us feel fully ourselves? Those are the things we need to hold onto to when we fall into despair. We can also nourish ourselves in prayer, meditation and reflection to help us stay grounded and spiritually nourished. If you struggle with finding quiet to reflect and meditate, you can find some guidance and tips on our blog.
Community
At times where we feel overwhelmed by hopelessness, it is easy to feel like we are alone in the world and the only one who is feeling the way that we are, but we are not. I strongly encourage you, if you haven’t already, to find and engage in community with those who feel the same as you (whether that is your local SCM group or something else) so you can build connections, be supported and support others. Afterall, we are stronger together than we are alone. In community we can grieve and despair together, but we can also come together in solidarity and talk of the world we long for and how we go about achieving it, even in our small way in our own contexts, and let this inspire our actions and activism.