How to keep smiling in a world that's gone crazy

April 1, 2025

Life’s too short to be miserable. In a world that’s gone crazy, I believe it’s your job to manage your focus and how you’re feeling so that you are actually enjoying the life you are living as much as you can.

It’s not easy to keep a positive outlook when you’re surrounded by negativity. But it’s possible. In my last blog I shared practical tips for mindful media consumption so you can reduce stress and maintain (or find) peace of mind.

Given the state of the world there is no lack of things to worry about. New problems pop up every day and it’s easy to get sucked down a rabbit hole of worry and concern. To get overwhelmed and derailed by everything that’s going on outside of you.

But you have control over what’s going on inside of you. And it’s your duty to surround yourself with things that are beneficial, needed, uplifting, inspiring, encouraging. That are providing you with what you need and with what you’re looking to get out of this life that you’re living right now.

I believe this ‘cloud’ of negativity that’s hanging over the world is part of why it’s harder to stay centered at the moment. That’s why I recommend grounding yourself daily to stay balanced and centered. If you’re highly sensitive, that’s even more important. Here’s how to ground.

Keeping yourself centered and grounded will also make it easier to execute the three following strategies.

1. Choosing your focus

In addition to limiting your news intake, you have full control over what you focus on and the thoughts you think about what you’re seeing or hearing.

I’m not saying it’s always easy to control your thoughts—on the contrary—but it is a choice!

As Tony Robbins said, “We don’t experience life. We experience the life we focus on.”

I’m not saying you should stick your head in the sand and pretend the world is a perfect happy place. What I am suggesting is that the way you experience the world has a lot to do with the quality of your thoughts—which depends entirely on the quality of your focus.

Your ability to stay focused on what you choose to focus on has a major impact on how you experience life.

First of all, if you’re focusing on things that are positive or neutral, you’ll have a much more pleasant day (and life) than someone who’s worrying about all the things that can go wrong and listing what’s wrong with the world (or your job or relationship).

You have the power to consciously choose your focus and shift your attention and state when you’re not happy with what you’re feeling or thinking about. To be clear: I’m not suggesting you avoid your emotions—you should definitely give yourself the space to feel them—but there’s no need to wallow.

Plus when you keep steering yourself towards things you can have an impact on, that’s much more fulfilling than talking in circles about things that are beyond your control. And it’s a better use of your time and energy. In my opinion at least. It’s also less taxing for your health.

Second. What you focus on, you attract. That’s what you are feeding—literally. It’s how your brain works.

Like when you are skiing or driving and you spot a big tree and you want to be sure to steer clear of it. But you keep looking at the tree. Guess where you will end up?

Exactly. Smash in the middle of the tree.

That’s how it works with everything you concentrate on. Your brain will go, Oh is that what you want? We can arrange that. It will find all kinds of ways to steer you to whatever image you hold in your mind.

Your brain does not distinguish between whether you do or do not want the thing you are focusing on. It only follows orders and aims for whatever you feed it with.

Did you know your brain makes no distinction between whether something is actually happening or whether you are dreaming it up, either? Athletes use that power to visualize the perfect race. What is so cool is that by simply visualizing a certain physical exercise your muscles actually get stronger!

Remember: your brain focuses on nightmares and daydreams alike! Hence the key is to feed your brain with only those things you want to happen or create. I know that is not always easy, especially when things are not going your way, or you are busy or even ill.

The power of gratitude

Here’s where the power of gratitude comes into play. This tool is as easy as it is powerful. Gratitude is a unique instrument to shift your focus from negative to positive, from worry and concern to appreciation. Gratitude is heavily researched and its power is well documented. Gratitude leads to less stress and feeling calmer. It greatly increases happiness and even impacts your physical health in ways such as longer and better-quality sleep.

Maybe take a moment right now to think about something you’re grateful for. And then allow yourself to be filled with that gratitude. The power is in fully allowing yourself to feel it. You can read more about the power of gratitude here.

Now what if you keep worrying about the state of the world and the things you read?

2. Dealing with worry

Most of us spend a lot of time worrying about things we have no control over. That’s a waste of time and energy. You have more important, useful or fun things to do with your precious time. Or at least I hope so. 😉

As Gay Hendricks points out in his book The Big Leap, “There’s a good way to know if a worry-thought is something you should pay attention to. Just ask yourself:

Is it a real possibility?

And…

Is there any action I can take right now to make a positive difference?”

If you answer ‘no’ to one or both questions, there’s literally no point in continuing to worry—other than make yourself miserable. As soon as you realize your concern is pointless, it usually becomes easier to pause and stop worrying. It helps to give your mind something else to focus on instead.

In addition to using gratitude as a tool to shift your focus, you can play your favorite music, move your body (workout, walk, dance etc.) or call someone to get your mind on something else.

Keep in mind that worrying is often a very persistent habit so it might take a few tries. This article has more tips to stop thinking negative thoughts and shift your state.

When it’s too much

And sometimes there will be a bit of news that disturbes you no matter how hard you try to shift your focus or how many different breathing techniques you attempt. And that’s okay. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let the agony ripple through you and sit with it for a moment. Maybe you need to grieve or vent or talk it out with a friend. Be sure to give yourself that space. And when there’s a true crisis these tips might help you cope.

3. Applying the antidote

This part is all about increasing the good news and uplifting input. Not to hide from the world but to create a balance in what you’re processing. Remember the media is skewed toward negative stories that sell. So it’s your job to find an equilibrium that works for you.

Tip: Take inventory of what you are consuming. Check the podcasts, books, articles, series and social media you’re inhaling.

What are you feeding your mind? Is it providing inspiration, education or simply a moment of feeling good or connected? Or not?

How do you choose to spend your spare time? Do you pick nourishing activities that feed your body, mind, and soul? Or do you deplete yourself further by what you watch or read or do?

As you may know, we’re wired for connection. And real human interaction will go a long way to add positive weight to that balance. See if you can add a few hugs while you’re at it 😉.

In short: if you consciously focus your thoughts, learn to catch yourself worrying and mindfully add positivity, you should have a powerful strategy in place to deal with the negativity that surrounds us on a daily basis. Remember you hold the power of what you hold in your mind. In doing so you free time and energy to spend on more useful or enjoyable activities.

It gets easier

I’ve been practicing these techniques for years and it becomes much easier over time to catch myself. Where at first it took me days (or weeks!) before I was able to get myself out of a funk, I now usually catch myself within minutes. Usually, but not always. So don’t feel bad if it takes time to shift your focus or stop worrying.

Embracing an attitude of gratitude and taking time each day to focus on things I’m grateful for has been a gamechanger. I truly hope you’ll consider adding gratitude to your day as well!

What’s an insight or practical application you can start implementing this week?

Let me know how that goes! If you have any additional ideas or strategies, I’d love to hear them!

Need support navigating your life? Iris van Ooyen is your guide to hope when life feels uncertain. In the moments when you feel lost and don’t know where to turn, Iris offers clarity, support, and a path forward. She’s the author of Radiant: How to Have All the Energy You Need to Live a Life You Love. Contact Iris to help you navigate life’s pivotal crossroads with confidence and purpose.