Fear and Hatred in a Crazy World

Fear and hatred are human responses to the horrors in our world including genocide, pollution, terrorism, human and animal rights violations, and public health crises. As Americans, we have the freedom to speak out against such atrocities and join in those causes which are aligned with our personal beliefs.  But posting on Facebook does nothing to bring change.

When we post those horrors on Facebook, we imagine we’ve done something positive, educated our friends.

Hmm.

Is that what you feel when your “friends” post the horror of the world on your shared wall?  Do you feel positive?  Educated?  Don’t you get enough of that on the radio, TV, or even when checking the weather online?

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. ~ Maya Angelou

We are all reacting to our own fears about living in a crazy world gone mad. This intense emotional response happens when we feel powerless.  The world is changing and we don’t see how we can keep going.  And it doesn’t matter whether our fear is about the environment, wildlife, politicians, war, school safety, discrimination against women, gays and lesbians, people with different ethnic backgrounds or skin color or religion, gun control, or all the ugliness in the world combined.

We feel overwhelmed, sad, and angry at our helplessness to change it, to make it stop, to punish those responsible.  That anger festers until we have to do something to express it.  But posting it on Facebook doesn’t make it change.

I know what it’s like to feel powerless and full of rage about something I can’t control.  But posting what you’re DOING about is is so much more effective.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.  ~Mahatma Gandhi

Consider BEING the change you seek:

1. Be a responsible citizen and vote, obey the laws, and be kind to others.
2. Hold your elected officials (City Council, congressmen, the President) responsible.
3. Call or write your elected officials.
4. Volunteer with groups working to mitigate whatever issue you want to change.
5. Pray, meditate, or visualize the situation resolved.
6. Get others to do that together. Large group meditation actually prevented a war.
7. Get your friends to brainstorm what they can do to effect change.
8. Search online for group prayers/meditations for your chosen issue.
9. Work on seeing the good in the world.
10. The more negative things you think about/do, the more you attract negativity into your life. You might even be creating the problem.
11. Live your best life; make your best decisions; and allow others to do the same.
12. Don’t be critical of those who don’t embrace YOUR chosen issue. There are plenty to go around!
13. Work on finding productive, healthy ways to express your fear and anger.
14. Work on being the person you want others to be.
15. Express gratitude all day, every day no matter what your situation happens to be.

What are you doing to help stop the madness?  Think about it.

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Till next time,

Please be kind to everyone you meet, for we all have our hidden sorrows. ~Tzaddi

[This article was first posted on August 31, 2019.]