What Mister Rogers Taught Me About Reading the News & How to Feel Less Overwhelmed
Like many others, I grew up watching Mister Rogers on tv as a child. He taught me kindness, curiosity, and creativity. But the most impactful thing I ever learned from him, I learned as an adult.
He has this quote that he began using in the context of heartbreaking disasters as far back as 1986. I didn’t hear it until I was an adult, but it completely changed my life. Have you heard it before? He said:
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” — Fred Rogers
I used to try to ignore bad news
For years, when I felt overwhelmed by what was happening in the world, I would try to tune it out. I’d pretend it wasn’t happening, distract myself with something happy, or just turn off the tv.
For a while, ignoring the bad news, pain, and injustice in the world kind of worked. It felt like the easiest way to make it through every day.
But at one point it became too much to bear. There was too much bad news I was pretending didn’t exist. It all hit me and overwhelmed me at once. Like a wave crashing during a storm.
Maybe you’ve been there before. Maybe you’ve felt totally overwhelmed by bad news too.
Then I started to feel cynical and frozen
After hitting this point, I lived my life feeling completely overwhelmed by bad news. I was unable to pretend it didn’t exist, and it drove me to cynicism and apathy. There’s too little good in the world, I would think to myself. Bad things happening is inevitable. There’s nothing I can do to stop it. I felt frozen.
But then I reread Mister Rogers’ words
In this low moment, though, I came back to this Mister Rogers quote.
His mother didn’t tell him to turn off the news when he saw scary things and she didn’t allow him to remain hopeless in the midst of scary things either.
She told him to look for the Helpers. She said he will always find people who are helping.
And so I started looking for the Helpers.
When I saw a tragedy, I wouldn’t bury my head in the sand. I would pay attention. I would lean in. And instead of feeling overwhelmed, I would look closely until I found a story of the people who were showing up to make a difference.
I would do this by searching on Twitter or Reddit until I found someone sharing live updates about what they were seeing on the ground after a tragedy. There would always be helpers.
I would do this by looking for nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and people of faith showing up to help their neighbors in the midst of heartbreak. There would always be helpers.
It was hard at first. But the more I practiced, the easier it became. Soon, I didn’t have to hide from bad news or let it overwhelm me. I could look for the Helpers and feel more hopeful.
Mister Rogers taught me to look for the Helpers. And to become a Helper.
And even better, as I began to feel more hopeful I realized that I could join in and become a Helper myself.
When I saw things in the news that were heartbreaking, I looked for the Helpers. And then I looked for the next opportunity to join them and become a Helper myself — no matter how small of a step.
Helpers were leading by example. And there are always ways to join them. Whether from my couch (with donations, helping build awareness, or calling my elected representatives) or with my time and energy (by actually volunteering or showing up myself).
I started my company, Good Good Good, because I wanted to help others in my shoes look for the Helpers and become Helpers themselves.
I have the unique privilege of spending years working with leading nonprofits like UNICEF, charity: water, Feeding America, (RED), World Vision, IFAW, among others. I have the unique privilege of my job giving me the time to look for the Helpers. I have the unique privilege of learning from experts on which organizations, missions, and actions are most effective for showing up to help in the midst of bad news.
And I wanted to help others — who maybe didn’t have those unique privileges — be able to feel more hopeful about the state of the world, know that there are helpers to be found everywhere, and know the most effective ways to make a difference — whether you have time or money or neither.
Thanks to the stories and tools we share — and these beautiful words from Mister Rogers — we’ve seen thousands of people share that they feel more hopeful, less overwhelmed, and more ready to become the good in the world. And we’ve gained the attention of the Washington Post, Country Living, Elite Daily, Mashable, Relevant Magazine, NowThis News and more.
(I’m especially excited about taking this to the next level for those who join our long-awaited Good Good Good Membership soon)
I have some homework for you…
Today, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the world — but I encourage you to pay attention. Even when it’s hard.
What’s the news story that’s on your mind that’s leaving you feeling overwhelmed?
Don’t try to block out the bad news. Instead, let’s take Mister Rogers’ advice to hear and look for the Helpers. We’ll find them, I promise.
And then when you find them, take a step toward becoming a Helper yourself — in whatever way you see fit — big or small. Make a $5 donation. Spread awareness on social media. Call on others to help make a difference too. You have the power to make a difference.
There’s not a doubt in my mind that you’ll feel better about the state of the world, knowing that no matter what’s happening, there are always people (including you) filling the world with a little bit of good.
I genuinely want to hear where you’re looking for Helpers this week. What’s overwhelming you? Leave a comment and let me know. And let’s work together in the comments to find the Helpers.
