4 steps to coping with fear, sadness and powerlessness

With politics and events being what they are, there is a pretty good chance that you are feeling powerless to do anything to change the world for the better. You probably also feel frustrated, sad and angry. Maybe you have reached the apathetic stage. After all, even babies and puppies are affected by injustice.

If you are feeling this way now, imagine how you will feel the next time there is a mass killing of people, or a cop shoots a seemingly helpless man who is complying, or someone shoots a cop, or someone accidentally shoots his mother or his son – BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. Imagine how you will feel after the presidential election – because no matter who wins, everyone making less than a million dollars loses.

If you like feeling these emotions, and it is clear that there are plenty of people who thrive on tragedy so you’re not alone, then stop reading now and go back to watching FOX “News” or MSNBC. However, if you want to change the way you feel and have a way to cope with the unthinkable events that have become all too common, follow these 4 steps:

1. Set up a space – Find a place where you can be alone or with friends. Make that space conducive to creating. The space should have all of the tools you need for your particular brand of creativity. Pen, paper, clay, paints, Legos… Whatever it is that you find comforting. The space will also need rules. No judging, no interrupting the creative process, no cell phones, no PokemonGo. This space is for you to practice creativity. That also means that there is no failure.
2. Invite friends and family – Some creative activities are better when shared. This will also help you build relationships and create a support network. Ideas generally get better when there is someone around to work with. Again the rules are no judging. Yes, if… is the best phrase to use here.
3. CREATE! You are a human being. Your most powerful weapon against drifting into inhumanness is the ability to create. It doesn’t matter if you create something brilliant or a lump of clay that vaguely looks like mashed potatoes if seen from far away. What matters is that you are releasing your most personal and strongest drive, a drive that the school system and capitalism have tried to eliminate from the human race. As the world spins towards entropy, creating is the only way that individuals can fight against the destruction. The world needs you to create beauty, love, relationships, art and joy. Follow the Carpenters lead and don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else. It is good enough for you.
4. Share your creation – God knows there’s enough crap on social media, adding your creation will give others the opportunity to explore their abilities to create. Sharing is the hardest thing to do, and you may have people in your network who will laugh at or ridicule you. Let them laugh, laughing is good. Put the block on those who would ridicule you, you don’t need that negativity in your life.

You might not be able to go to war against ISIS/ISIL/IS, or whatever the hell their name is this month, but you can go to war against their ideals. While they destroy the history of mankind, you can rebuild it with your creativity. (Or didn’t you realize that these terrorists are offended by “graven” and “pagan” images.)

Fight terrorist ideals, fight boredom, fight apathy, and fight powerlessness. Using the power of creativity, you can become your own superhero. You just have to commit to doing it and then unleash your strength.