This post was inspired by something one of my friends posted this week about being available for those who are important to us. It was also inspired by what I’ve been witnessing and feeling lately around me.

Why We Should Give a F*

Is it just me, or are we living in a time where empathy is treated like an optional accessory — nice to have, but not necessary? Everywhere you turn, it feels like society’s mantra is “Stop caring. Protect your energy. Don’t give a f*.” I’m guilty of that, too. I bought into all of this as well. But it never felt right. In fact, it felt totally off and unnatural.

Authors like Mark Manson and Sarah Knight have built entire bestselling empires on this philosophy. And I get it — boundaries are essential, and so is making ourselves a priority. Knowing when to step back is a healthy habit, no argument there. To be fair, they do discuss giving a f* to what matters, but somewhere along the way, the message seemed to have flipped, and we’ve stopped filtering what not to care about and started applying it to everything in our lives.

It seems that we’re collectively becoming numb. Social media has numbed us. We scroll past tragedies and bad news stories without blinking. In my opinion, we’re oversaturated with it. We watch injustice unfold and either shrug or feel helpless, blocking it out because “it’s not our problem,” because it’s happening to someone else, somewhere else. We ignore the person struggling right in front of us because “we don’t have the bandwidth.” This isn’t just a harmless mindset shift — it’s a dangerous cultural trend that I see evolving and growing – and being celebrated.

The Rise of Apathy — And Why It’s Dangerous

Authors like Manson and Knight, and others like them, didn’t invent detachment. However, they’ve packaged it in a way that feels good to an exhausted and overwhelmed society. I get it. People are desperate for permission to stop caring. There’s so much out there, so much bad news and big feelings, and people just can’t deal. So, when someone hands them a book that says, “You can opt out,” they genuinely embrace it because it resonates with their mindset or how they want it to be. It’s classic enabling, which is fast becoming the hallmark of our society.

The trouble is, opting out of everything means opting out of humanity. And humanity is precisely what we need right now. In fact, the majority of the atrocities and hate in the world right at this time are a result of ignoring the humanity in others and seeing others as less than human. As not deserving of kindness and compassion. A few bad actors have become the poster people for their communities and are ruining it for others. The humanity in people is being erased and replaced by something much darker, and, frankly, much scarier.

The World Is a Disaster — And It Needs Us to Care

Look around: wars, natural disasters, political division, economic inequality, and hate crimes. The world is not in a great place. It’s not going to get better by accident. We do have a role to play, even if it’s a small one.

Change happens when enough people decide to care. I’ll say that again: Change happens when enough people decide to care.

Small, everyday acts matter. Here are some examples:

• Smiling at a stranger
• Offering a seat to someone who needs it
• Listening to understand without interrupting
• Checking in on friends without waiting for them to ask or reach out
• Standing up for others, even when it’s uncomfortable

These aren’t grand gestures — they’re acts of resistance against a culture of apathy. They’re glimmers of light in a darkened world.

Caring Is Strength, Not Weakness

Some think that caring makes you weak. That empathy means you’re letting people take advantage of you. That’s false. Genuine kindness and compassion take courage.

It’s easy to look away. It’s harder — and braver — to not. The people who give a f* are the ones who change the world. They spark movements, inspire communities, and create solutions. They’re not doormats, they’re game changers.

The Cost of Not Caring

The danger of a world that doesn’t care is that it becomes a world where anything can happen, and no one stops it. Injustice thrives in silence. It feeds on it. Cruelty spreads like a virus when no one calls it out. Hopelessness deepens when no one reaches out. If you need a reason to reach out to someone you know might be experiencing loneliness, here is one: a recent study revealed that people experiencing loneliness often perceive their own contributions to relationships more negatively. So don’t wait for them to reach out; they probably won’t.

When we “stop giving a f*,” we stop noticing who’s hurting. We stop showing up for causes that matter. We stop being the kind of people we’d want on our team if we were struggling.

Life humbles everyone eventually. When it’s our turn to need help, will we have created a world where people still care? What legacy are we leaving? What legacy do we want to leave? One of hope or one of apathy?

How to Flip the Script — Give More F*S, Not Less

Instead of proudly declaring, “I don’t care,” or “it’s not my problem,” start saying, “I care deeply — and I’m going to show it.” The world doesn’t need more indifference. It requires more people willing to be kind.

Boundaries matter, but balance also matters; it doesn’t mean apathy — it means choosing what to care about, then caring fully.

Challenge

Today, do one thing that shows you care. Here are some ideas:

• Send a kind text to someone who’s been quiet
• Tip generously
• Hold the door for the person behind you
• Ask your neighbour or your colleague how they’re doing — and really listen

These small actions can stitch the fabric of humanity back together, one thread at a time.

Giving a f* doesn’t drain you — it energizes you. Every act of kindness reminds you that you’re part of something bigger.

Call to Action

Don’t buy into the myth that apathy is a form of empowerment. Real power comes from caring, connecting, and contributing. If the world feels cold, it’s because too many of us have decided to withhold our warmth.

So give a f*. Give many. Give them freely and without apology. Watch how it transforms you and the world. I will lead by example and incorporate these things into my own life, hopefully inspiring my kids and others around me to be empathetic towards humanity as a whole. Slowly, if we all do this, the world will become a place of light for all people, regardless of who they are or where they are in the world. And that my friends is #GOALS.

P.S.: Helping others, volunteering and getting involved is a GREAT way of meeting new friends and maybe even love interests! WIN-WIN!

Affirmation to help inspire you:
“I choose to care. I choose to be a light in the darkness. My compassion is my power, and I will use it every day to make the world better.”

One.Step.At.A.Time.

Suzie

For more inspiration and practical advice, follow me on all social media platforms at @PowerCoachSuzie.