In a world increasingly filled with AI-generated slop of all kinds and a social media landscape dominated by an outrage machine that is engineered to addict people and steal their attention and privacy, it is important to know there is an alternative. And that alternative does not mean burying your nose in other media 24 hours a day.
The alternative is simple … but can be very hard:
Turn off your phone, get away from your computer. Look out the window. Go for a walk outdoors with no particular destination in mind.
Read a book of fiction. Go to a library, art gallery, or coffee shop. Study a painting. Listen to live music. Talk to other people. Be kind. Be polite. Be thankful. Be humble.
It can make you feel better and make others feel better too.
For more information, see —
Humility is the foundation to a virtuous life
Be kind to others; it’s good for you and for them
Mental health benefits of nature, green and blue spaces, and being outdoors
Nine evidence-based guidelines for a good life (Gary M. Bakker)
Commit a random act of kindness today. Make someone smile. Say “thank you” (a lot!). Donate, volunteer, pick up litter, say “hi” to your neighbor, say “good morning” to someone and mean it, be aware of the many, many good deeds done every day by people who aren’t in the headlines or shouting constantly on social media. Make kindness and humility contagious.
That’s how the world really works!
But don’t tune out! Skepticism is good, cynicism can be bad. Knowledge and understanding defeats fear and stress. See the common good. Help the many succeed. Understand the corruption, greed, and venality of those who seek power at the expense of others.
Other helpful resources:
UCLA Mindful — “the mindfulness education center at UCLA Health [United States], is dedicated to advancing mindfulness education to promote individual and cultural well-being and resilience world-wide.”
Books by Oliver Burkeman —
Questions? Please let me know (engelk@grinnell.edu).
