As a Catholic, my faith not only guides me in how I pray and go to Mass on Sundays. It also guides me in how I am called to live in the world through being aware of social justice issues and serving those in need.
From news alerts and Instagram posts to conversations among friends, I’ve found that I cannot escape conversations about the upsetting issues facing our world. Leading up to the presidential election in particular, I noticed myself becoming overwhelmed by daily news that highlights the injustices in our world.
As a result, I was frequently getting stuck in a negative mindset that was hard to shake. How can I enjoy and be grateful for the safety of my home and the food on my table when I know that so many people do not have these necessities? For a long time, I felt more guilt than gratitude for the many blessings in my life.
During one session with my spiritual director, I mentioned that I was feeling overwhelmed and couldn’t find God’s presence in discussions about worldly issues. She asked me where I could currently find God in the world, and I brought a long list of everyone and everything I was grateful for in my life. I realized that when we open our eyes to injustice and the unique privileges that we’ve been given, it’s easy to let our guilt overwhelm us, but it’s important that we find gratitude instead.
Guilt is not productive
As a Catholic, I’ve definitely felt “Catholic guilt” when I’ve failed to live in a way that would please God. One of my favorite jokes is about how an Irish goodbye is when you leave a party or gathering without saying goodbye to anyone, but an Irish Catholic goodbye is when you leave without saying goodbye and feel bad about it.
I am no stranger to the feeling of guilt and shame, however, something I learned from my spiritual director is that God does not want us to be held down by despair and fear but instead, be filled with hope and faith. In fact, the most common phrase that appears throughout the Bible in different terminology is, “Do not be afraid.”
After a day of scrolling through social media and seeing people facing war, starvation, and suffering, I feel upset and helpless about what actions I can take to uplift others. When I’m saddened and overwhelmed in this way, I struggle to be productive, and I have a hard time even showing up for people around me.
I have learned that during these moments, I can ground myself by taking a social media break and focusing on something that takes my full attention, such as cooking a meal or even solving the daily Wordle. When I am my best self, I am free from guilt and shame so that I can show up for myself and the loved ones in my life.
Gratitude is important for our happiness
Gratitude is an important spiritual practice. Recognizing what we are grateful for brings us joy and brings God joy as we recognize the blessings he has provided for us.
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At times when I’m doomscrolling on social media, all I see is the negative. Natural disasters, warzones, and school shootings are just among some of the traumatic events people face on a regular basis. How can I be happy when we live in such a distraught world? And do I even deserve to be happy when there is so much suffering?
I have realized that, yes, even in a world filled with despair, God wants me to be happy. After all, we live in a post-resurrection world. There is reason to rejoice because Jesus has risen from the dead to save us from the sins of the world.
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Gratitude can inspire social action
When we realize what we are grateful for, we can use our gifts to uplift and better the lives of others. Instead of letting guilt or sadness overwhelm us, we can realize the gifts that we have been given and use them to better the world.
I am very grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to attend college, and I know it is a privilege that not all people are afforded. Instead of feeling guilty about this privilege, I lean into gratitude and use my privilege to uplift others. I volunteer with the organization iMentor, where I support high school students navigate their college application journeys.
Overall, I aim to move through life inspired by gratitude, not guilt, so I can show up for others, embrace happiness, and engage in social justice activities.