Positive Ways to Respond to the News

An image that features a mug full of coffee, a pen, and a napkin. On the napkin is written” Positive mind, positive vibes, positive life.

Having some awareness regarding current events is part of being a responsible citizen. But reading or hearing the news can often leave us feeling helpless and in despair. We may wonder, “What’s the point of being aware of these issues if there’s nothing I can do about them?” However, there are many positive ways that we can choose to respond to the news. 

1. Offer compassion. We are all impacted by current events in different ways. Perhaps you’ve heard that there is a hurricane headed to Florida, and your friend moved there. Sending a text can let them know that you’re thinking of them. Or maybe you’ve heard that older adults are more isolated during the coronavirus pandemic. You can consider calling older family members, or sign up to be a pen pal for an elderly person in a nursing home. 

2. Spread awareness. If you read an article about something that you think is important, you can share it on social media. You can also share petitions calling for change, or fundraiser links helping people in need. 

3. Learn more. Change starts from within. When we make a sincere effort to continue learning about issues that affect our society, we are able to adjust our attitudes and behaviors. When we make an effort to learn now, we improve our chances of making a positive impact in the future. 

4. Speak up. If you are affected personally by an issue, or care deeply about an issue, sharing your perspective can inspire others to use their power and resources to make a difference. Of course, you should never feel obligated to share something if doing so would compromise your personal safety or well-being. 

Read a news article that interests you, from a reliable source. Reflect: How can I respond to what I have just learned? What can I do that is reasonable and healthy for me?

Reliable sources: 

https://www.huffpost.com/section/teen

https://newsela.com/

https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning

https://climate.nasa.gov/

https://knowherenews.com/stories

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Self-Compassion News Break

An image of a girl hugging herself. She’s wearing a pink sweater and looks content.

This exercise is an adapted form of Dr. Kristen Neff’s Self-Compassion Break, featured on https://self-compassion.org/exercise-2-self-compassion-break/ 

If you feel distress after listening to, reading, or watching the news, you are not alone. It’s okay to feel this way, and it’s also okay to look for healthy ways to cope. 

First, take a big, deep breath in through your nose, counting to four. Hold your breath for a second or two, and then breathe out slowly through your mouth, counting to four. 

Next, think about how the news has made you feel. Acknowledge this suffering by writing down how you feel. For example: This hurts, I feel angry, or I am so sad that this has happened.

Next, take a moment to remember that you are not alone. Remember that you do not have to carry the burdens of the world alone, and there are many people helping to make things better. There are many people struggling with the same difficult emotions, and you are not alone in feeling this way. Repeat to yourself: I am not alone. Write down some good wishes you have for other people who are struggling. This is compassion. 

Finally, extend this compassion to yourself. Ask yourself, What good things do I want for myself? Write down these good wishes, for example: May I have hope. May I find rest. May I find energy and opportunities to do good things that bring me joy. May I find the beauty in all things. 

Take four more deep breaths. If possible, take a break from the media after doing this meditation. Take a stretch break, eat a snack, read a book--Do something kind for yourself.

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This prompt was written by Grace Ferber, a Words Alive volunteer

How to face ethical dilemmas in the age of coronavirus

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.
— Potter Stewart

Have you ever faced a situation where you had to make a decision that didn’t seem to have any clear-cut answer? Consider these scenarios. You want to invite friends to go to the movies and you only have two extra tickets, but you have three best friends! Who would you ask? You’re about to take a test in science class, and the teacher inadvertently leaves the answer sheet on her desk where many students can see. Would you quickly copy the answers like many other students do or would you go take the without looking at the answers? You buy a new sweatshirt and the cashier mistakenly charges you $2.70 instead of $27. Do you point out the mistake?

These situations and others like them can involve an ethical dilemma.

Ethics is defined as moral values or ideas that govern someone’s decisions or actions. When we make decisions based on our ethics, we use our personal or shared values as a framework to determine what is good and/or bad. This process often requires moral reflection as we make evaluations and judgments about responsibilities, rights, duties, values, and principles.

Although ethical questions involve or imply the words 'ought' or 'should,’ but the answer could involve moral conflicts with several possible outcomes.

For example: Should individuals who donate kidneys be allowed to choose who their organs should go to?

You probably have opinions on this question, based on your experience, ideas, or principles. But there is not a clear-cut right or wrong answer. Most ethical questions do not have a clear-cut right or wrong answer. That is, it is often a Right vs. Right (As opposed to Right vs. Wrong) Decision.

What are some of the values that we apply to making ethical decisions? Think about a person that you really admire! Someone you look up to because of their actions, the way they treat other people, and the choices they make in their life. Take a minute to reflect on some of the adjectives you would use to describe this person. Maybe they include such words as honest, friendly, fair, safe, responsible, and independent. These characteristics might be important to you as they reflect your values. What are some other values you might have?

Importance of authority, respect for privacy, courage, kindness, cooperation, loyalty, service to others could be other examples.

Choose a couple of your values for further reflection. Write a sentence or two about your top values.

For example: Honesty is important to me. I have had a couple of experiences in my life where people weren’t fully honest! Things didn’t always turn out so well! So it’s very important to me to be honest and have other people be that way, too!

Making a decision based on values can be challenging.

Here are some steps to follow that are helpful when considering an ethical question:

1. Study and understand the situation.

2. Identify the dilemma, right versus right.

3. Identify values on all sides of the question.

4. Reflect on your values and make a decision that reflects those.

5. Communicate your decision citing facts, values that inform your position, and listening respectfully to other points of view reflecting different values.

Example:

1. Study and understand the situation: One of your friends has been talking to you about how they are ashamed of their body and how they are considering taking non-prescription medication to help them lose weight. This is a really good friend and they have asked you to please not tell anyone about their plans. You know they have kept some secrets for you. What do you do? Some facts may want to consider is whether the medication has been proven dangerous. Find out what research your friend has done to make their decision. Is their decision informed?

2. Identify the dilemma, right vs. right: Support your friend by keeping their secret or tell someone about the danger you feel is beyond your control to help.

3. Identify values on all sides of the question: Keeping the secret is associated with values of friendship, honesty and trustworthiness. Telling an adult in order to seek help is associated with values of safety or health as well as concern for others or perhaps respect for authority.

4. Reflect on your values and choose a position that reflects those: Try removing yourself from the question and focus on your personal values. Look back at the values listed in #3 and decide what’s most important to you.

5. Communicate your decision citing facts, values that inform your position, and listening respectfully to other points of view reflecting different values: In the end, you might make a decision to talk with your friend about your concerns and about the values behind feeling the way you do. Listen to their response as well and maybe together come to a decision that works for both of you. You might decide that you will keep in close touch and your friend will let you know if they feel things are not going well, you might decide that you will choose a trusted adult to talk to together, or you might decide you need to let someone know even though your friend might not be happy with your decision.

Every day we encounter situations that require us to make decisions and solve problems based on our values and beliefs. Also, we are required to form opinions about things happening around us in the world based on these values and beliefs. Questions surrounding us might include: Should immigrants be detained at the border or admitted into our country? Should women receive equal pay as men for equal work? Should abortion be legal? All of these questions require close investigation of personal and community values.

Currently, we are in a very unique historical time of trying to manage a global pandemic and ethical dilemmas arise every day.

Choose one (or more!) of the articles below that discusses a current ethical dilemma. Do the 5-step process for each article to practice ethical decision making based on the value framework we’ve outlined above.  

1. Whose lives should be saved? This LATimes article discusses the new realities health care workers face as they fight the virus with limited supplies.

2. When should the country be re-opened? Panelists in this New York Times article weigh the economic impacts against the nation’s health.

Questions to guide you through the 5-step framework:

1. In your own words, what are the facts involved?

2. What is the ethical dilemma — the right vs. right question?

3. Why is each outcome potentially right? What are the values associated with each side?

4. What is your position? Think about what values you hold that might influence this position. 

5. Make a plan to communicate your decision. Try writing a short opinion piece on what you would do and why!