Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind podcast, where we’re learning how to be happier by working with our minds. If you'd like to know more about what I teach, visit moniquerhodes.com, where you’ll find resources to help you get started on your journey to happiness.
The Serenity Prayer and the Weight of the World
I think this is an important moment to remember the Serenity Prayer. It was written in the 1930s and goes like this:
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
This prayer feels incredibly relevant today because these are difficult times—times when the weight of the world feels heavier than ever.
Wars and political divides
Climate crises
Suffering that feels endless and inescapable
Many of us are struggling to balance staying informed and engaged while also protecting our mental health. We want to help, we want to contribute, but we also don’t want to collapse under the sheer weight of it all.
The Bubble of Influence
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed for a podcast, and I spoke about something I call the Bubble of Influence.
I explained that right now, it’s crucial to create a kind of protective bubble around ourselves—one where we are mindful of:
The people we surround ourselves with
The way we shape our thoughts
The information we consume
And most importantly, we need to remember that while we do have a level of influence, we also need to protect ourselves in order to use that influence effectively.
The Challenge of Balancing Engagement and Protection
One of my students challenged me on this idea. She said:
"I absolutely want to protect my mental health, but I also want to share important information and help those affected by the world’s problems. Isn't it a privileged position to focus on 'inoculating' ourselves from reality in the name of mental health?"
I deeply respect this concern. It’s a fear many of us have—that protecting ourselves emotionally means we are turning away, ignoring the suffering around us, or living in a state of false positivity while the world burns.
But that’s not what I mean when I talk about creating a Bubble of Influence.
This is not about detachment—it’s about sustainability.
You Cannot Fix Everything
If you truly want to be someone who creates change, who helps others, and who is a force for good in this world, you cannot afford to be consumed by despair.
There is a brutal truth that must be faced:
You cannot fix everything.
No single person can.
No matter how much you care.
No matter how informed you are.
No matter how much you sacrifice your own well-being.
There will be suffering.
There will be injustice.
There will be things beyond your control.
This does not mean you do nothing. But it does mean you have to be strategic about where you place your energy.
The Difference Between Awareness and Action
The concept of the Bubble of Influence is about directing your focus toward the areas where you can make an impact.
If you spend your days:
Absorbing every tragic headline
Arguing with strangers online
Drowning in the vastness of problems too big for any one person to solve
Then you will be drained, exhausted, and ineffective.
But if you put your energy into the things you can influence—
Your community
Your work
The people you love
The causes you are personally equipped to support
Then you become a force for real change.
Is This a Privileged Perspective?
Some might argue that being selective about our engagement is a privilege.
But I challenge that notion.
It’s not a privilege—it’s a necessity.
Because if you are overwhelmed, hopeless, and burned out, what do you have left to give?
Look at the people who have created real, lasting change in the world:
Activists
Leaders
Healers
Revolutionaries
They didn’t operate from a place of constant despair.
They knew how to sustain their energy.
They knew how to stay resilient.
They knew how to protect their minds so they could continue their work.
That is not avoidance. That is wisdom.
How to Stay Engaged Without Being Consumed
So, how do we stay informed and engaged without being swallowed by despair?
1. Be Selective About the Information You Consume
Stay informed, but don’t be inundated.
Set limits on your news consumption.
Choose credible sources.
Step away when it becomes too much.
Personally, I check the headlines once in the morning after my daily practices, and then I step away.
If I am overwhelmed, I am of no use to anyone.
2. Focus on Where You Can Make a Real Impact
Instead of feeling helpless about everything wrong in the world, ask:
Where can I actually help?
What actions can I take today that will make a difference?
Maybe it’s:
Volunteering
Donating
Educating others
Supporting someone directly affected
Protesting
Pick your battles wisely.
3. Recognize the Difference Between Awareness and Obsession
Being aware of an issue is important.
Checking the news 50 times a day is not.
Doom-scrolling or letting social media dictate your emotional state does not help anyone.
4. Prioritize Your Mental and Emotional Well-Being
Rest is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
You are not weak for needing rest.
You are not selfish for protecting your peace.
A strong and stable mind is your greatest tool for long-term impact.
5. Cultivate Joy and Connection
The world is not only darkness.
There is beauty.
There is love.
There is light.
There is kindness.
Seeking those things is not ignoring reality.
It’s what makes life worth fighting for.
This Is Not False Positivity—It’s Survival
Many of us believe that if we stop worrying about something, we are failing to care.
But worry is not the same as action.
If we carry the world’s suffering in our minds all the time, we are not lightening the burden.
We are only making ourselves too weary to carry anything at all.
Ask Yourself:
- Am I consuming information, or am I being consumed by it?
- Am I actually helping, or am I drowning in helplessness?
- Am I directing my energy toward change, or am I exhausting myself with things I cannot fix?
Choosing where to place your attention is not pretending everything is fine.
It is about refusing to let pain steal your ability to act, think, and hope.
Because the people who change the world do not collapse under its weight.
They learn how to carry it without losing themselves.
I hope this has been helpful. As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
