As the new year dawns, we are once again confronted with a barrage of troubling headlines – polarisation, the climate crisis, domestic violence, the rising cost of living, and the looming threat of AI. It can be overwhelming, leaving us tempted to tune out the news or numb ourselves to the constant stream of negativity.
However, journalist Justine Toh argues that this is precisely the time when we need to cultivate a fresh way of seeing the world. Rather than looking away from the harsh realities, she suggests we look deeper and find the hidden stories of hope and resilience that often elude the headlines.
Toh draws inspiration from the example of a foreign correspondent who, after witnessing horrific events, found solace not in prayer, but in the silence of a church. This speaks to the need for a different kind of spiritual practice – one that allows us to step back, process the onslaught of bad news, and find perspective.
As Toh explains, “Attention changes the world. How you attend to it changes what it is you find there.” By shifting our focus away from the constant doom-scrolling and apocalyptic forecasts, we may discover the small delights and glimpses of “final victory” that are easily overlooked.
Toh recommends starting the day not with a glowing screen, but with the faces of loved ones, the natural world, or the words of sacred texts. These “handhold[s] of the immediate reality” can help decentre our focus from our fears and remind us of all there is to love and give ourselves to, even in the midst of so much sadness and struggle.
Drawing on the example of William Wilberforce, a prominent figure in the abolition of slavery, Toh suggests that devotional materials from previous generations can offer a valuable counterpoint to the challenges we face today. Wilberforce’s prayer for “more love, more humility, more faith, more hope, more peace and joy” serves as a reminder that our ancestors also grappled with seemingly insurmountable challenges, and found strength in their faith to persevere.
Toh’s message is one of determined optimism – not a naive avoidance of reality, but a refusal to be cowed by it. She calls for a “fresh way of seeing” that is not blind to harsh truths, but that actively seeks out the glimpses of hope and resilience that can so easily escape our notice. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, this is a perspective that “scans for those glimpses” of “final victory” even in the midst of a “long defeat.”
As we navigate the tumultuous year ahead, Toh’s advice to “show up with eyes that can scan for the good” may prove to be a vital resource for maintaining our sanity and humanity in the face of seemingly endless bad news.