Is 2024 Going to Be a Dumpster Fire? 3 Thoughts to Keep You in Your Happy Place

I don't have all the answers but don't stress if things feel a bit shit already.

Oh, hey there!

If you’re like me, your New Year's Resolutions vanished quicker than your tight-ass friend when the check arrives.

I set out with more goals than a soccer field and now it’s nearly February, the holidays are a distant memory, and I’m *pretty* sure I hear sirens in the distance.

Shit might feel challenging right now - but that’s OK! I’m not going to force-feed positivity down your throat because existence is about the downs as much as the ups.

Life is a rollercoaster. Some days, you’ve got the wind in your hair and you’re screaming with joy. On other days, a pigeon slams into your face at 120mph and breaks your nose.

If times are tough, here are three thoughts to get you through.

#1 - Optimism is a state of mind, not a state of the world

Ugh, that’s treading dangerously close to bumper sticker territory.

But it’s true.

All the shit going on around you might make you feel like your emotions have been hit with a sledgehammer.

So it helps to know your life view is influenced by something called disposition bias.

That means your current emotions can (and do!) influence your judgement of future events. In other words, when you feel sad, your brain thinks the future will feel sad. It’s a vicious cycle and you’re not alone if you feel hopeless sometimes.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t feel stressed about your latest eye-popping bill or the suspicious rash you’ve got “down there” (just me?). But remember - feeling shit today is no indicator of your future.

My advice? Inject a little extra mental energy into feeling optimistic when things start to suck. Or, at a minimum, recognise that feeling shit isn’t a permanent setting on your emotional dial. Pick one of these paths and you’ll slowly cultivate more positive feelings about the year to come.

You’ve got this.

This is me being 94% calm as AI comes to murder us all. If I was any more relaxed I’d achieve nirvana and start a cult… actually, that’s not a bad idea.

#2 - You’ve left a horrible email address in the past (and that’s growth)

Everyone had a terrible email address in the past.

Don’t hide it. Don’t run from it. Don’t pretend it wasn’t batshit, spit-out-your-coffee insane.

But you grew up. You picked something more professional. Now, you don’t have to apply for jobs or leave details using bonerkid69@hotmail.com or juicylucysbootyhole@yahoo.com.

It’s 2024 and everyone knows bad decisions and bad emails can’t cross the New Year’s threshold. I don’t care how long ago your embarrassing email was, I’m proud of you for where you are right now.

#3 - Negativity bias is making you feel worse than you should

I’ve watched Mad Men several times (Seasons 1 through 7) so I’m pretty much an expert on sales.

That’s how I know bad news sells better than good news and why the news is full of “Oh, that’s f*cking horrible” stories that make it seem like the sky is falling. Horrific stories grab attention and all the bad stuff gets clicks.

The result? You end up lying in bed, covered in Dorito crumbs, “Doomscrolling” through social media algorithms and news websites who want you to feel shit.

Here’s a few quick-fix solutions:

• Acknowledge your brain is wired to focus on bad news: Your caveman ancestor had to worry the movement in the bushes was a tiger and not the breeze. This helped them survive. In 2024, it’s more handicap than helpful. Recognising how your brain works is step #1.

• Go on a low-bad diet: Cutting out chocolate? Nah. Cutting down on bad news? Absolutely. You don’t need to walk around with a blindfold on - Birdbox style, but you should avoid wallowing in bad news. That doesn’t mean you can’t fight on behalf of tragedies that affect you or that you should ignore the world’s suffering. It does mean you shouldn’t constantly consume bad news.

• Find your tribe to find your happy place: You’ve got passions, hobbies and interests. Other people have ‘em too. Find a runner’s group in your community. Join a gaming clan online. Suspend yourself from the ceiling with large hooks through your back while strangers in animal masks chant and masturbate. Whatever works for you.

Oh, you’re still here? (You’re keen, I like that about you).

Here’s the takeaway - tough times are unavoidable. Your reaction is up to you.

This email can’t solve all your problems (some people would tell you it can’t solve any - my Mum can be very hurtful), but I hope it adds a new perspective to the way you see your world.

2024 might look like a dumpster fire, but if that dumpster is full of fresh bread, then damn, it’s gonna smell good.

With love,

New World Porter

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