Honestly I know EXACTLY how you feel. I think most people do these days. I guess for me the key is to acknowledge things are messy, but to not become defeatist about it. Like, "I know there are huge problems in the world, but humanity has pushed through darker times than this, we can and WILL find a way."

When it comes to the big problems, what hurts the most is the wasted years I've had learning about politics and social issues and events. I feel like I'm on the wrong side of history with thinking we could do better than "[insert nation name here] is number one".

And when it comes to personal stuff, I can't say anything good because I only have words for the negative stuff. The good stuff is always fleeting and evades my attention too quickly.

Again, I know how you feel, especially with the second part. Every day I constantly ask myself "What have I done today that makes the world a little better?" Most of the ti9me I can't think of much.

Again though, with regards to the big stuff, ruminating on "what should have happened" doesn't really accomplish much. We are where we are. What we ALL collectively need to do as a species is ask "So what are we going to do about it now?"

Ask life for a refund? I'm not satisfied with this one. I would not consent to existing if I knew it'd be like this.

I know EXACTLY how you feel, believe me...but unfortunately that's not an option on the table. To quote Gandalf, https://youtu.be/MJiVC8r2L6U?si=bK3mTCrwVU4WRsCW
This world is what it is, our lives are what they are, BUT I believe we CAN ALL make a difference, even if it doesn't feel like it. Every small act of defiance from corruption; like boycotting certain products or sites and voicing our opinions, and every small act of kindness or productivity; supporting charities that have a good impact, following independent journalists taking the fight to the front lines, or just helping a friend or a stranger in need...it all adds up. We all must BE the change we wish to see in the world.

I don't know if you've watched Andor yet, but if not I highly recommend it. It helped give me a new perspective on what it means to be alive during troubling times. It gave me hope, and a sense of purpose...most of us may not yet know WHAT it is we need to do, and we me never fully consciously know, but staying vigilant and pushing through is sometimes the best offense against corruption. Existing as people who are openly against horrible things is in itself poison to the people who do said horrible things. It's when we give up and just accept it that the tyrants become the most powerful. Tyrants after all are just as mortal as the rest of us. The fewer people bow to them, the less power they have.

My favorite Star Wars story so far.

A true masterpiece of storytelling.

This is a very good advice.

You just try to think and stay positive.

I sometimes have that trouble but always things of something better.

Like a new video game, wool sweaters, and friends.

Thinking is easy. I can ruminate positively better than I can about anything awful that happened.

The problem comes when I attempt to say something. To express something uplifting or inspirational. The words fail me. I find it impossible to simply say something nice without sounding sarcastic or insincere.

That's a problem I've had since I was a toddler. Might be a neurodivergence thing.

Finding something nice hard to say without sounding sarcastic or insincere can be part of insecurity. Humor is a defense mechanism that is easy to overuse and rely on, and I think many of us in the internet age have become irony poisoned. Sincerity is vulnerability which is… well, it’s vulnerable of course. Every time we say or do something honestly, try something in earnest, we allow the possibility of (perceived) failure. Rejection, setbacks, loss. But if there’s no risk there can be no reward and no growth.

Been struggling with that for years myself. I find myself relying on the little things a lot myself, even though they don't always help

Word.

Problem is that for talking...that often leaves me with small talk which I frankly detest.

I try and fovus on interests and hobbies and shite

Honestly, I’d say “turn to Jesus”, but I get the feeling that you wouldn’t like that.

You’d think I’d try and convert you, or something.

Had no idea you were the type ;3

Not really. I just put faith in something that helps, you know?

I prefer to have faith in the ability of our species to reason, grow, problem solve, care for each other, and work together on all those things. Not faith that those redeeming qualities are guaranteed to win out, but that they can. Progress is not inevitable, but in principle it is always possible and so there’s always some degree of hope.

Amen to that.

I find I suffer from similar, but I don’t think it’s inevitable. I give voice and attention to my insecurities and negative thinking (eg when I journal it’s usually a vent) but rarely to the positive. That is often wordless, in the form of photographs or memories. My reasoning and internal monologue succumbs to a cynical outlook, and I often fail to argue the other side to myself. We are also prone to negativity bias. We are survival machines that will die, but there is no equivalently permanent or severe good thing that can happen to us. These are just more habits and thought processes that can be changed though. And in the longer term one can make a life according to their values with those who share them, and find happiness and fulfillment even under unfavorable conditions. If you’re doing what you can to live a life according to your values, that can be enough. The mind’s flexibility is as much a strength as it is a weakness.

I wonder if being so generally negative is construed as a form of over-sharing. I feel like I lose the interest of folks when I talk like this, but it feels like it has to come out eventually.