News worthy ideas
More and more we’re hearing young people ask for help with trying to figure out how to make sense of everything that is happening in the world right now (which is fair, we’re struggling with this, too!).
Here are some ideas that may be able to help.
“What are you hearing about in the news that is worrying you / scaring you the most?”
Validate feelings
When things feel (and are) out of our control, and when the outcomes are unknown and unpredictable, worry makes sense. Acknowledge it. Resist the urge to say “it’s all going to be okay” or “don’t worry about that.” Reflect their feelings back to them. If you’re feeling the same, share that, too - they’re not alone.
Focus on the facts
What do you know to be true? Let’s check that our feelings match the reality of the situation. Is there anything you need to learn to help us with this?
“What are you doing with the information you are receiving?”
Consider your integration
We often have this sense that “we should know what’s going on in the world,” like we have a responsibility to stay informed of current events. And, while you may believe this to be true, when things feel overwhelming it can be helpful to check in with how you’re integrating all this information. Is it pushing you towards activism? Do you feel empowered? Is it causing unwanted stress? Do you feel stuck and powerless? If you answered “yes” to those first two questions, go get ‘em! If you answered “yes” to the second set of questions, you might want to consider this next one…
“At this moment in time, how helpful is it for you to be consuming information about world events?”
Be extra protective of intake
You might want to (re)consider how you are taking in information: Are you passively consuming headlines while scrolling social media? Are you listening to the news? Are you able to understand the information you’re getting? It is okay - and important - if what you need to do right now is reduce (or completely cut out) your intake. Be extra protective of yourself. Give your nervous system a reset.
Zoom in on what you can control
There is so much going on, and so much is out of our control - and when things are out of our control, we can feel helpless and powerless, and that can increase our worry and fear. A final idea to try, is to zoom in on your world view. If seeing the whole world is too much, start zooming in - picture the world from space and start narrowing in - maybe it’s to your continent, your country, your province, your town, your house… zoom in until you reach a place of feeling like you have control over what happens. That might be your house and your ability to clean it, or fill it with groceries, or re-organize a closet. Zooming in until you feel empowered can help to counter world-anxieties. And even though it may seem super simple, it can be impactful.
Need more ideas? We’re here to help if you need us.