I heard a singer say once that he only writes positive, uplifting music because there is enough negativity in the world. I really like the idea of staying positive. I think it is very important to your mental well-being. It doesn't usually come naturally, either. You really have to make an effort to be positive. YOU have to control what you let yourself think about and what you let yourself see and experience. Just as you protect a child from seeing bad things, sometimes you have to do the same for yourself. I've said before that I hate when people try to pretend that the bad things in the world don't exist. In this case I am not talking about blocking out or ignoring every bad thing that you hear or see. I'm talking more about limiting your intake and controlling your negative thoughts.
When you see something bad on the news, think to yourself, "Does this information benefit me? Is it very important that I think about this?" 9 times out of 10, the answer will be 'no'. Then why let yourself obsess over something that is not benefiting your mental health? For example, think of someone who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Those people have seen and experienced things that are so horrific that they can no longer function in everyday life. If you let the negative thoughts consume you, you are basically giving yourself PTSD, and some day you may not be able to function either.
So don't ignore every bad thing in the world, but don't let the bad things control or break you either. Listen to one or two sad songs, but then move on to some happier ones. When things get heavy-handed, deal with them as best you can, but then give yourself some time to think of or do happier things. Give yourself a mental break.
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