From: Gloomy Glen
In this letter to Dear Douglas, a reader wonders whether constant exposure to bad news is changing how he sees the world and himself. Is cynicism the price of being informed, or is there another way to stay aware without becoming emotionally depleted? This reflection explores the psychological cost of constant awareness and the delicate balance between caring and self-preservation.
Dear Douglas,
Whenever I have a few minutes of free time I find myself going on-line and reading the news that comes up on my ----- page. The news often informs me about problems that exist and the thousands of people who may be suffering from one horrific tragedy or another…mass murders, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, abuses of power, global warming, etc. It seems important that I stay informed about the political and economic changes that affect our world, but all the gloom that comes with it is affecting my outlook on life. Is the world a depressing place? I feel myself getting more cynical, pessimistic and depressed. Is it only me?
Gloomy Glen
Dear GG,
You are asking a good question. You are recognizing that your mood is influencing your outlook on life and wondering if there is a connection between your low mood and the suffering and dysfunction that is so prevalent in the news. It is a good time to recognize what is happening and to think about how you might avoid being too negatively impacted by the harsh realities of life.
Some people choose to avoid looking at the news, or limit the amount of time they spend hearing about what is bad in the world. Certainly, that is an option. It might also be helpful to consider how that bad news is balanced or integrated with the brighter side of life. The key here is monitoring and managing your moods. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves what it is that makes us happy, gives us pleasure, makes us feel alive, involved, able to see beauty and enjoy humor. Depression is when the painful feelings that come naturally from the experiences of life dominate our inner landscape and crowd out the positive feelings of joy, pleasure, etc. Sometimes it can be a downward cycle and through the lens of our depression we can mostly see the experiences that reinforce our feelings. It sounds like that may be happening to you. Depressed people tend to give up the things that have given them pleasure.
Let me take it a step further. There is a huge tendency in almost every culture to trade the enjoyment of living for the roles and responsibilities that come with adulthood. The demands of our workplace and the role of parenthood can often dominate the time and energy we have for living. It is a recipe for depression and/or midlife crisis. It is also a set up for compensatory behavior, escape into coping strategies that offer quick fixes to boredom and low moods…drinking, drugs, shopping…you know, those things that make you feel good tonight but lousy in the morning.
I believe we have to re-discover the concept of PLAY, not just for kids but for adults too. Dr. Stuart Brown, a researcher and the founder of the National Institute for Play, says, “Play helps us deal with difficulties, provides a sense of expansiveness, promotes mastery of our craft, and is an essential part of the creative process.”
So…Gloomy Glen…before the world gets you down…re-discover how to play!
Enjoy,Douglas
