[blind archer]

Whenever I read or hear about something that I find unfair I feel really terrible and depressed like learning about how too many children in my country are not receiving any proper education due to widespread corruption, that many big corporations are using inhuman means in other parts of the world to manufacture products that people buy even after knowing this fact, that how many decades ago a genius inventor never got what he deserved due to foul play of greedy people around him (No, not Tesla).

And this happens all the time and I have no clue what to do. When I try to just accept the facts or tell myself that there isn't anything I can do about it, I am attacked by thoughts that tell me that I would become like one of those people who just let bad things happen even when its really easy for them to prevent it or like the sociopaths that don't bother thinking if their actions are evil.

Some things we have no control over to fix but other types of injustice we can take action against. It helps if other people will join the cause to fight because it's a tough road to go it alone.

[amity]

This is a very tough question.I too get upset even if the injustice does not affect me in any way.I cannot do much but i do raise my voice when i see it happening around me.This much at least we can all do.That way we can be at peace.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by blind archer

Whenever I read or hear about something that I find unfair

I accept that some of the problem is the reading and hearing. We aren't there witnessing it and other people are reporting or telling for their own purposes and with their own perspective and idea of what the story is, where the Truth lies and what's what.

I would limit what you read and hear! It's like commercials on television; the people are not there to help you or educate you or anything else except to sell something to you. They may have kindly older spokespersons telling you how that product has helped them or they may have puppies with sad eyes and children who haven't had enough to eat. All these things exist in the world at all times, but others are using us when we let them pluck at our heart strings without filtering the message so it is healthy and helpful for us! We do ourselves a disservice when we do not filter what "comes in" and prioritize it so it helps us live a better life for ourselves, here, where we are.

Think of all the posts on this board. Do you read them all? Of course not, you read what interests you. What interests you? I don't know, only you can answer that question. You probably read posts that don't interest me or posts that I find not related to my life and what I come to this site for, etc.

What I come to this site for. . . Why do you come here? Why do you read and hear what you read and hear? I watch a little news on TV or read headlines on social media/websites but rarely read in detail unless I want to, unless something is local or interacts with my life and beliefs in some way. I do not like reading about starving children. I am aware that there are many starving children in the world, many abused spouses, many abused animals, lousy politicians, all manner of ugliness in the world. But, if I cannot make that issue my own, cannot effect it and make a difference, if I do not personally know anyone who is starving, abused, having a difficulty then I really cannot afford the energy and personal resources learning/being drained by those issues. I have to choose issues where I feel I have something to offer, where I can help! If I let my energy bleed away feeling bad about things I cannot do anything about, then I won't have as much to help where I can help.

To me, Life is very much about choice and focus. Someone with ADHD or OCD has trouble monitoring their head and focusing on what is in front of them and needed to help them in their own life, not someone else's. One person cannot "deal" with injustice. One can only give $10 here and a kind word there, offer to "help" an acquaintance, friend, or loved one in a specific difficulty they are facing. Sometimes we can only offer to listen or acknowledge that we "see". Sometimes an issue will grab us and we can jump headlong into working to make things better for people with that issue but we cannot spread ourselves too thin, think we can truly "care" about multiple big issues at once. I sometimes notice issues because I am afraid. I might be afraid I am going to become a homeless, old, bag lady so I suddenly notice homeless, old, bag ladies. That may or may not be my issue I need to work with but if I look and see it is not, I have to choose to turn my attention elsewhere and recognize that I have mixed my personal hangups up with the issues I want to spend my energy working on.

I choose to choose and focus.

[CopperStar]

Accept your limitations. That is the first huge step. You cannot save everyone or fix everything. You cannot change the world. You cannot change or control other people.

Then look at what you can do. These will be small but meaningful things. Focus on your personal responsibility, your role in the grand scheme of things. Stay true to yourself and your values. Lead by example.

For me the key is understanding my circle of influence, it's really very limited as most of us are (unless we're president!)

I do what I can when I can, partly through volunteering and also in how I treat my family and friends, and although it might not seem much it's still a positive effect on those people. We can all make a positive difference in some way.

For the issues you write about maybe investigate what you can do to help influence change. Perhaps you can join a pressure group, and campaign about the issues you feel strongly about?

[WibblyWobbly]

You can channel all of that heartache through volunteering. Find an organization that does work you are passionate about and fits your schedule. If you focus on one thing and know you are doing everything you can to make a difference, it may help you accept that some things are out of your control.

[(JD)]

You have received a lot of good advice already in the thread! I hope you can take even one part of it and follow up.

That's key, I think, to find just ONE something you CAN do.
This is a control issue, imo. I used to deal with it on a really high level/scale of emotional exhaustion... until I did work on my control issues.

Of course it is irrational to think that because you don't do something about everything you will become "one" of "them"... the very fact that things concern you means that probably won't be the case for you.

And yes, the hearing and reading is huge! It used to be we could believe a large percentage of what we heard or read in the media. That is no longer the case. Even when researching something on the internet, unless you phrase things a certain way, and in many different ways to search, you will get one main "choice" the internet has made for you... not necessarily the truth.

So do find one issue that you can do something about...and yes, volunteering is a great idea... to help correct that... encouraging others to find one thing too...

And then, for me, I am able to leave the rest in God's hands...that's my belief anyway.... actually it is all in His hands, for me, and once I do all I can He takes over. (Still working on this )

Breathe. When overwhelmed with things out of control there often appears an element of urgency. Don't buy into it... unless the situation IS time-valued...you have time to check things out and think about it.

Peace.

I believe your answer is action.

It's true that life is not fair, and it may be true that there are things that you cannot change. However, it's also true that you can try to make life fair. And by trying to make something fair your frustration with the fact that life is not fair will go away.

[avlady]

you can do what you feel like doing like something you are concerned about by helping in your own little corner of the world. maybe volunteering like alot of people said. otherwise we have to leave it up to our Maker to help those out and i myself pray. that is how i find peace.