How can we best effect change in light of recent atrocities throughout the world?

Over the course of this year, we’ve witnessed several atrocities across the globe as well as major political shakeups that have left the world in an acute state of uncertainty.

Unsurprisingly, emotions are running high. It’s easy to get caught up in the torrents of opinion and debate, argument and conflict. Scrolling through social media, you’d be forgiven for thinking that knee-jerk reactions and instant judgements are sensible behaviours, given their omnipresence.

Despite being a keen student of mindfulness, I’ve found myself caught up in the commotion, making snap judgements on what drives perpetrators to commit horrific acts, and ranting about political candidates who I felt have been fuelling the fires of division, fear and hatred.

And then I received a timely message from a (Star newspaper) reader, who asked me, “How can I process what’s been going on in Orlando and in Nice and elsewhere in a way that’s positive and meaningful and prevents anger from taking hold?”

Had I been mindful prior to moments of lapsing into unhelpful reactions, this is the question I would have asked myself.

Some might view practices such as mindfulness and meditation as panaceas that immediately put an end to negative emotions and at once transform practitioners into peaceful, tranquil beings.

But humans are always susceptible to negative emotions, particularly when we witness cruel injustices unfolding. Thanks to advances in technology that have allowed round-the-clock reporting to come through our TV screens, smartphones, laptops and tablet devices, the onslaught of negative information appears relentless. In paying attention to the carnage, the hate, the fear and the distrust, it’s no wonder negativity seeps into our consciousness.

Reflecting on that question posed to me, I was initially at a loss to offer advice that would be both positive and practical. After all, faced with some horrible occurrences on a near-daily basis, the usual counsel of “try to let go and accept whatever arises” seems shallow and saccharine. Good people are angry and confused and struggling to process what they’re seeing — what can be done that would serve any purpose?

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal. — Buddha (Dhammapada)

I began to think of all the people who come together in the aftermath of tragedy. The people who offer their support and assistance through volunteer initiatives; the people who take to social media to offer the use of their houses and transport to those in need; those who provide a voice to the voiceless; and the countless others who help in amazing ways.

In the face of brutality, injustice, violence and crime, so many unsung heroes are always on hand to remind us of the abundant good that permeates humanity; and while bad news sells, the spirit of community and love continues to shine bright in our darkest hours. There’s no attempt to hide the ugliness that exists in the world; instead, we’re consistently shown that the best of who we are will forever triumph over the worst of times, no matter how long the battle rages on.

Processing the senseless attacks that transpired in Orlando, Brussels, Nice, Baghdad and the many other places in the world is no easy task. While trying to make sense of the “why” plays an important role in the healing process, what is perhaps most important of all, the best way to process such tragedies in a positive and meaningful way, is to ask ourselves, “How can I lend my support in a way that reinforces our shared values? What can I do to help show that, no matter the difficulties we encounter, the best of who we are will always rise above the worst of whatever we face?”

It’s here, in this space, that we can make a real difference. Assigning blame and fuelling anger within ourselves might feel good in the short term, but it serves only to add to the darkness that already exists.

Instead of shouting the odds against racism and xenophobia and terrorism, rather than creating an “us versus them” mind-set that works to widen divisions and deepen fears, we can resolve to offer the best of ourselves in spreading messages that reinforce values of decency, love, acceptance, peace and humanity.

The late American professor Randy Pausch said, “No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse.” Maybe the worst of times can be used as a lesson to remind us of our capacity for making things worse through our words and actions.

Perhaps the best way to fight back against the darkness is to not fight back at all, but for each of us to be like candles that come together to shine bright until the darkness no longer remains.

Sandy Clarke is a writer and columnist at The Star — Malaysia’s biggest-selling English daily newspaper. For more on personal growth, mindfulness, meditation and well-being, feel free to connect with me on Twitter @RealSClarke.