How do you do it?

How do people still stay sane/happy when the world seems like it's falling apart?

Horrible job market, banks going down, war, people losing houses, untrustworthy politicians (in opinion), "terrorism", etc. 

I just feel like everything is horrible, i can't see the world getting better.  I am so young and I want to have a happy normal life, but it just feels like the government is taking over and we can't do anything but watch.

It will get better... It might get worse before it gets better, but it WILL get better... But I am an optimist.  An optimist that has ALL of her accounts with Wamu...  Still not worried..

jane, i think it's a question of knowing what is in our control and what isn't.  there's no point worrying about stuff we can't do anything about.  we have to focus our energy on things that are in our control.

one technique that i find helpful is to make a list of all the things you're worried about.  take your time with this; i've seen people make very long lists.  then go through and cross off everything that is beyond your control or not your responsibility.  next, go through again and make note of anything that is in your control, but that can wait: decisions that you don't have to make yet, etc.  whatever's left is yours.  take that stuff, and make a plan.

all those big issues will come and go, and the world will keep on turning.  things will change, but they won't change that much.  so...do what you can, and let the rest go ;)

I completely agree with Pg, there is NO point in worrying about things that are out of your control.  From there, what you need is perspective.  Look back through history.  What goes up must come down.  All the great empires ended at some point.  So maybe it's time for the American economy to cool off.  Yeah the Canadian one will too, I'm sure.  It's not the end of the world. 

Look at the way other people around the world live.  They don't all own 3000 sq ft houses, with giant yards, two SUVs etc.  Think about what you really need to be happy.  Probably not all that stuff.  What we'll do is adapt.  And I think the world will actually end up being better off for it.

I fluctuate between optimism and pessimism. What keeps me going in times like this is to look back at history and see that the progression of the human race has had ups and downs, but overall it has been progressively getting better. I look at the long term when the short term isn't very rosey.

I've also come to realize that there is no "normal" life. "Normal" life is a misconception perpetrated by the media and other various groups to give a sense of conformity. When I'm feeling sinister, I call it manipulating or brainwashing the subjects into submission so the powers that be retain their control and power.

 

Live in the moment.  Do things to make yourself happy, and like the people above said, don't worry about things that aren't in your control.

I agree that the world seems to be falling apart, and if that distresses you, think about the things you can do to help!  Don't be one of those people contributing to the problem.  Volunteer to help the hungry or the homeless; get involved with a non-profit; help build a house with habitat for humanity...etc.  If you do something about it, even if you can't control whats going on in the world, at least you'll feel that you are doing something to help! :)

I'm 22 as well and plan on going to school for international public health so I can work on projects that help needy people all over the world....everything I learned in college taught me how the world was swirling out of control (environmental studies and political science majors will do that to you)...so now my job is to do something about it!!  It helps me to know that little things can make a difference and inspire other to no be a part of the problem :)

I am an optimist as well!  I think we are going through tough times right now.  Things will get worse, but eventually they will get better.  It takes time.  Depending on what you are concerned about, be active and knowledgeable about what it going on in our country.  Take a stand in what you believe in, and try to make your voice heard.  Be positive in your thinking, and (like PG said) understand what you can control and what you cannot.  Find enjoyment in the little things, and don't let yourself be overwhelmed with the "big things".

agreed pg.....

my motto.... you cant control the what other's do, don't do, should be doing but neglect, or do do when they have no business doing it..... you cannot control the actions of others...... the only thing that is 100% in your control is your reaction to the events........ hell at times you may not be able to control you immediate emotions..... but just because something saddens you or angers you does not mean that your reaction cannot be controlled......

thus..... i say FUK IT!!! excuse my french.... but hey i personally cant do anything immediately to fix the ecconomy..... hell i am feeling it financially like everyone else..... but i will be damned if things i have no control over make me a basket case!!!!

everyone collectively say it with me now............ FUK IT!!! LOL

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. 

 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do what you can do. 
Do your best. 
Reject perfectionism. 
A little bit of good is better than holding out for perfection and ending up with nothing. 
Listen. 
Cultivate self-knowledge and then follow your instincts.
Ask yourself, in the grand scheme of the universe, how important is this?
Know that you will survive the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and be stronger and smarter for your experience.
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.

***hugs***

one word "XANAX"

Plus, this is only like.. the 5th or 6th time we've gone in to recession in American history, and we've always came back..

I'm not worried. and it's nothing to worry about. Like said. we'll adapt!

Original Post by dbackerfan:

one word "XANAX"

WEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

 

 

You just gotta try and live your life. You can't take on the whole world. It's frustrating, I know. But you can't let it ruin your well-being. Do what you can, but don't take it all on yourself.

To quote a BNL song, it's all been done before. We've survived worse and we'll survive again, in some form or another. I am also young and my family recently went through a terrifying bout of unemployment (everyone got laid off).

I was terrified and depressed through it, but I tried not to cut the world off. It's a scary place these days, but with good friends, good family, and a good book to help escape occasionally (or movie or game or what have you) helped me through it.

But then the trouble passed. I can only believe everything else will run it's cycle too. I just pray that it won't get worse before it gets better.

What keeps me grounded is my faith and my trust in God. Everything is within His control, even the bad, which is hard to understand. But God will allow bad things to happen because He uses it to discipline us and teach us and to bring glory to His name.

I don't know what your religious view are, but I do know that before I came to Christ, I was an unhappy person, trying to find happiness from the world, which ultimately left me even more unhappy. It wasn't until I finally repented of my sins, that is I turned away from them and changed my actions, and put my trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As for what's going on in today's world, it doesn't surprise me one bit, because all of this has been prophesied 100's even 1,000's of years ago. And this is just the beginning. But God promises everlasting life to those who "believe in the name of His son, Jesus Christ, and keeps his commandments."

My family lost their beautiful home because of what is going on, but like others have said, you gotta move on. They're currently renting a cute little house. =D Gotta make the best with what you're given...not things completely of your reach (and control).

I also don't think there's a 'normal' life. The white picket-fence, the perfect family, everything is just peaceful etc... that's what TV made us believe. Everything is imperfect and everything has its ups and downs.

stock up on guns and ammo and wait..........

There's really two questions here. The first, how to stay happy, is addressed well above. The second hasn't been.

Get active. Actually get involved with what you believe in. I don't care what you believe in, find a group that's supporting it and volutneer. And, whether you believe it or not, get involved with local politics. "Community Organizers" go on to do great things. Maybe you can't stop it, maybe you can't even make it better, but you might be able to make getting worse take a much longer time, and sometimes that's all you can ask.

Learn. You need knowledge. You need as much knowledge as you can handle. You don't just need the straight up knowledge, you need knowledge about really obscure things, too. Clearly the current situation is bothering you, so start there. Committ to at least two news sources, preferably of alternate political bendts, and get watching all the Sunday Morning News commenatry.

Living Well is the Best Revenge. Look, all of the above problems are based upon really simple mistakes, sins of ommission and commission, of people not looking on the future with foresight. Don't Do That. Live right. Make everything a concerted choice, and live within your means.

And, when bored, study insurgency.

I often wonder what our lives would be like without tv, or radio even. There's alot of hype about everything in the media. Maybe just concentrate on your own life, and day to day stuff. Sometimes too much information can be a bad thing.