- Credits:
- axios.com
Helen’s Place LLC Update: July 29, 2022
You’re struggling to keep a good attitude about life in America, but you’re worried. Everyday you’re barraged with negative events reported from various sources like people, congress, politicians and the media.
You observe that corporate greed is rampant, and you know so many people who are struggling to get ahead financially. You believe your friends who are Dreamers may never get citizenship. You know people who died in the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s all just too unfair, and you ask, “How could this happen in the U.S.?”
You feel powerless to change anything. You wonder what happened to cause moral standards to get so low in this country, where people lie and cheat and get away with racism.
How are you going to pull yourself up, to keep going when humanity seems so horrible?
In times like these, develop the strength to practice conscious resistance, which means in this context – to see and hear what’s going on without being stopped by it. Plenty of people have book-smart intelligence without emotional fitness, but to be an emotionally fit person requires staying in constructive action mode – so this is what you’re going to try and do:
For starters, resolve that you will not let bad people with their negative speech and fraud schemes affect your determination to be excited and find meaning in your life.
Surround yourself with positive action oriented family, friends and colleagues if you can, but be prepared to go it alone if you have to. Fortify yourself every day by doing something you love.
Support the good – shop at small businesses, eat in local restaurants. If you are working for less than $15 an hour, or working for a company that is negative, never give up on yourself and your ability to find a better job.
Use your time and energy to hang on to hope.. Move toward the light, no matter how slow the progress.
Focus on companies that are making their employees lives better, rather than companies that add to an increase in toxic working conditions or poverty. For example, if you can shop and/or work at Costco instead of Wal-Mart do so.
Create or add to the following list to keep yourself going:
- Barter — pay friends for services
- Donate to good causes
- Support artists and craftspeople
- Have a potluck
- Have a picnic
- Go for a walk with or without friend(s)
- Exercise
- Enjoy your coffee in the park or local coffee shop
- Find the best events — go and do — i.e. museums
- Play games to stimulate your mind — i.e. cards, chess etc.
- Watch inspiring TV or read
- Talk to friends
- Listen to music and podcasts
- Run errands for someone or volunteer
- Make cooking at home delicious
- Participate in what you think is important — like joining a women’s march, voting
- Save up for something rewarding like a special dinner or theatre tickets
It’s not necessary to be happy all the time, but living a constructive life takes diligent effort to create the best life you can through constructive action.
Related audio/video recording:
To learn more about other aspects of emotional fitness you might be interested in:
YouTube, Arizona State University, April 16, 2018, Dr. Emily Anhalt, “The Emotionally Fit Leader”
Other related article you may be interested in:
Helen’s Place LLC, April 8, 2021, “You Want to Work for a Socially Responsible Company – Is This too much to Ask
Helen’s Place LLC, June 26, 2022, Construction Action Rules
Your comments are greatly appreciated. Send them to Helen’s Place LLC via email to info@helensplacenet.com.
