Depending on your perspective and your environment, there might be a hopeless amount of bad things going on. Things like war, potential war, increasing income disparity, fascism, capitalism, big tech taking over, AI bubble, etc. etc… So how does one pull out someone who is exposed to an unhealthy amount of negativity like this, and motivate them to work towards something positive that is within their sphere of influence?
Myself, I think I’m gifted/cursed with stubbornness: I refuse to back down just because there is a huge statistic showing we’re f#@ked, when I know there are things I can do to counteract the negative situations. Every little bit helps, everything from providing free educational support for individuals (counteracts ignorance), to tending to my garden (counteracts climate change), and buying the slightly more expensive local products in the store as long as I can afford it (counteracts monopolies).
There are plenty more small things, but the ultimate question I’ve had on my mind for a long time, is simply how to make others think like me? I am a happy individual despite my small sphere of influence in this world, and I wish for others to have that same happiness.
P.S.
If you, or someone you know, would like to discuss mindsets and how to approach the world with determination, my DMs are open.
To expand a bit on stubbornness: as I’ve said in another comment, invest your time on people who agree with the basic idea of your position but disagree with the conclusion.
When you go talk to those people, avoid telling your opinion. Use the Socratic method to make them walk step by step towards the conclusion (see this video, pay attention to how he poses open ended questions). This way, it’s the interlocutor arriving at their own conclusion instead of you pushing your ideas on them.
Keep in mind that whenever you start debating, you’ve lost the opportunity to make them see what you see. Debates are only useful if the target of your activism is someone listening to the debate.