Once again, we watched the crypto markets going to a tailspin. Meanwhile, there is war and death and mayhem and destruction all around the world, people lose their lives to earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and much more.

![20231130_230340.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYWACSXSxoH5D9tKaQzkVJBsbysGrhPNdiQh4QXrjtWn8/20231130_230340.jpg)

The Talking Heads and motivational gurus are keen on persuading us that we just need to *"engage in positive thinking"* and move forward. Somehow, it feels disingenuous to just ignore all the pain and suffering. And yet? If we let ourselves get mired down in it it's a sure path to depression and worse.

Much as I have had various forms of training, and have taken many seminars on staying balanced and positive, I sometimes struggle with keeping my chin up and a smile on my face.

There's just so *much* coming at us, and it comes from every direction it seems. Meanwhile many people are struggling *individually* to merely keep afloat in their own lives, thanks to a world of eternally rising expenses, spiraling inflation and job uncertainty.

Simply smiling and having a good attitude isn't going to get your rent paid!

![20231125_000303.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeY8u6gNXcKouFSkm5Fb5hWzciWDk4m91Y4o6CDzoFN6Y/20231125_000303.jpg)

Some years ago, I decided to more or less permanently turn off the television because I didn't want to listen to all the negative news that came up all the time. That has definitely been helpful, because the news media serves up a steady diet of disasters. And watching all those disasters sure wears you down in a hurry!

Whereas all that stuff still comes across the news feed on my computer and on my phone, it's a little bit easier to ignore it there. I've made a conscious effort *not* to subscribe to a bunch of news feeds, for the very reason that I don't want any more school shootings and other disasters delivered into my living room!

Perhaps I'm more of a *realist* than some, so rather than focus on the whole *"positive attitude"* thing, I instead try to focus on *limiting* my exposure to a bunch of the blood and death mongering that seems so inevitable. At least it keeps *some* of it off my table.

![20240113_005537.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYJGrQuwnXQGY4xepgHJiUQRK8naj8MQhTYsFBTqzLMxY/20240113_005537.jpg)

I expect a good bit of all this stuff is somewhat cyclical in nature anyway. The crypto markets may be down but who knows... they may be up again in another month from now. And then back down again and 6 months from now. And so on and so forth. 

And I expect it is pretty much the same way when it comes to the ebbs and flows of disasters in our world. And so the next story will have everyone in an uproar for a bit.

Sadly, *of course*, we don't really have any news channels that just deliver good news! Because it *is* out there...

I'm not sure it's really possible to *"stay positive"* in this environment. Perhaps a more realistic expectation is to simply stay *neutral*, and to recognize that there is not a lot of point to getting worked up and frustrated over things we have no control over.

![20230703_182014.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRi4hGQJVmEfK53LKmQfUv3ErkA1tNCMuv1TwtKfLPLL4/20230703_182014.jpg)

I do have the power to be more positive about things here in my own life... like planning the garden for next year, and working on my artwork and things like that. We have to pick our small positive victories wherever we can!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great remainder of your week!

***How about you? Do you keep a positive mindset? Do you manage to ignore all the bad news or does it not affect you? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!***

***(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — Not posted elsewhere!)***

***Created at 2024.01.24 01:09 PST
x684/1919***