1 . Have you ever felt numb, overwhelmed, or excessively anxious after seeing the flooding of suffering shown on the news, Internet, and social media? I know I have — and I recently learned that this feeling has a name: compassion fatigue (疲劳).

For decades, researchers have studied compassion fatigue among health care workers, therapists, social workers, vets, and other people who are frequently exposed to other people’s trauma at work. Over time, they can develop emotional exhaustion or even PTSD-like (类创伤后应激障碍) symptoms—including difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and feeling triggered by troubling stories or memories—as a result of immersing themselves in the problems of others, studies show.

While compassion fatigue hasn’t been widely studied among the general population, experts agreed that it can affect anyone, even those who are witnessing trauma from afar. That means almost everyone is at risk these days, because of ongoing conflicts even wars between countries, frequent gun violence, and other difficult world events that are all over the news and social media. Triggers (诱因) vary from person to person, experts say, so there’s no way to know for sure what will cause compassion fatigue. If you are reacting more strongly than usual to difficult situations—perhaps by yelling at others or growing angry when you’re usually level, you may be experiencing compassion fatigue.

To protect yourself from compassion fatigue, the experts recommended taking purposeful breaks from the news to focus on personal wellnes — such as by spending time outdoors and with loved ones — and finding ways to give back to your community and remember the good in humanity.

4 . Self-criticism (自我批评) is a mental habit of negatively analyzing and judging ourselves and our actions. If we don’t find a way to overcome self-criticism, we won’t be able to live a happy and satisfying life.     1    .

Thought stopping is one of the best secrets of how to overcome self-criticism. Interrupting your thoughts helps you change how you think about yourself, thus helping you feel better.     2    . However, with enough practice, you will make it.

Another strategy is to replace negative self-critical thoughts with positive realistic statements. For instance, if you set a goal, be realistic about it by giving yourself enough time to achieve it. In fact, having a constant desire to achieve immediate success can ruin your confidence.

Another secret is to let go of the need to be perfect. It’s all right to set high standards for yourself.     4    . In addition, desiring to be perfect in everything you pursue can prevent your progress.

    5    . However, it’s important to note that comparing yourself to your peers, friends, or family can increase dissatisfaction and unhappiness. That said, the best tip on how to overcome self-criticism is to practice self-acceptance.

5 . Are you constantly saying words like “I am so tired”, “my mind is so exhausted”, “I need to take a break”, and “I am unable to handle the pressure anymore” and so on. At this moment you start thinking that you need more time to rest.     1    

Energy is not just a physical concept.     2     Just think for a second that you are going to exercise now but your mind keeps on telling you that you are tired. So your exercise session will be postponed or it will be least productive.

    3     When you start telling yourself that you are tired, the body performs in the same manner. However, when you get rid of all the negative thoughts, the positive energy starts flowing through your body, and you will see the difference that it makes.

Affirmations (肯定) are positive phrases that can help you deal with negative thoughts and emotions. In addition, they assist you in visualizing the desired outcome and reprogram your mind.

Now, how can positive affirmations be useful? First, you need to identify the negative thoughts that you need to get rid of. You have to be very clear about what you want.     4     Moreover, you must select the affirmations you truly believe in.

Start practicing these affirmations every day.     5     Remember consistency is the key to success. You can speak them cloud, in front of the mirror, record them and listen to them. You can speak them aloud in the morning or at night before going to bed. Gradually, you will see that these positive energy affirmations will have a positive impact on your life.