“If you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there’s hope.”
– Fred Rogers
My plan for this week’s post was to discuss thinking errors – the biased or unhelpful ways we think about things and how these ways of thinking affect our mood.
But in light of the events in the Middle East, the war between Israel and Hamas, I wanted to make a couple of points on how I’m trying to process and balance the graphic scenes and stories I’m being exposed to.
1. Looking for The Helpers
In the Mind chapter of my book, where I talk about the importance of balanced thinking, I refer to a quote by Fred Rogers that I often repeat.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'”
The point of his quote is that while there will always be tragedies, we must also try to notice the people trying to improve the situation.
Today, in the case of the Israeli-Hamas war, a strategy I’m implementing is directly guided by the Fred Rogers quote. When I read or hear news about the current war, I also look for stories of people trying to improve the situation.
Here are examples of stories that I’ve been reading:
- Egypt to open Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid.
- At US Synagogues, calls for peace…
- Flights chartered to Canada and the US for many fleeing Israel and Gaza.
Although I have to put in some effort to look for these types of headlines, it pays off because it gives me a more balanced perspective. I’m not just reading about those who are dying. I’m also reading about those who are trying to help.
2. Life Must Go On
As I write this paragraph, I have just finished spending a week promoting and discussing my book, The Promise Wheel. Many of the places I visited were First Nations communities in Canada. They expressed gratitude and appreciation for my visit and what I had to share. I felt welcomed.
During some of my presentations, when I began discussing the Mind chapter of my book, I brought up the quote by Fred Rogers and how I’ve been applying it to the current situation in the Middle East.
Many people in the audience appreciated the strategy.
But there were also people in the audience who needed more knowledge about the war or the extent of what was happening.
Why weren’t they following the news more closely?
Because some are too overwhelmed with the losses, tragedies, and suffering in their own communities, they don’t have the capacity to think about the suffering happening thousands of miles away.
It was a reality check for me. It was a reminder that there is much suffering and pain in the lives of those who live close to me. It reminded me that I can’t get so overwhelmed by what is happening in another part of the world that I neglect what is happening to my neighbour.
A Balanced View Takes Work
As I’ve said in many posts, awareness of what is happening worldwide is essential. It’s also important to think about ways that you can help those in need, regardless of where they live.
But if you are going to spend time focusing on what is tragic, take time to also think about what gives you hope.
And if you feel helpless about being unable to change what is happening in another part of the world, think about how to help those who live in your home and your community. You can make more of a difference than you think.
Richard