How to Not Let the News Derail Us

We don’t ever know what someone else is going through. I was sad to learn of Naomi Judd’s death by suicide a few weeks ago.

She and her daughter, Wynonna (the famous country music duo - the Judds) were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame the next day. From the outside, she seemingly had everything: wealth, fame, loved ones. 

And yet, she was in such pain. 

I wrote about how her daughter changed my perspective with a simple shift in language a couple of years ago. Still an apt lesson. 

Today, I want to check in with you.

It’s been a particularly hard week with the shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Woods. 

How do we not let the news consume us and derail us from our mission?

Renegotiate your relationship with your phone

On average, folks touch their phones 96 times a day (every 10 minutes). If you fall into this camp, try touching your phone 80 times instead.

We often think that change has to happen in big sweeps, but instead if we strive to do 1% better everyday, that’s when the lasting change happens.

Take your moments of joy. Simple but not easy.

Whatever brings you levity, lean into it - be it watching the sunrise, petting your dog, laughing with your kids.

Check in with your health habits

Studies have been showing a drift in measures of empathy, i.e. folks are less empathetic now than 20 years ago. Empathy is our ability to see each other’s perspectives, and yet, there’s a lot of talking “at each other” instead of “to each other.” 

Empathy takes energy, and if we’re in a deficit, then no wonder it’s hard to see each other’s humanity.

I hope these three tips serve you.  

Until next time, as always, be gentle & kind to yourself. 

Shalini