How to get through 2026: stop complaining, start contributing

The constant stream of bad news can easily leave you feeling paralysed. Bibian Mentel’s story shows what can happen when that sense of powerlessness is transformed into action, writes columnist Simone van Neerven. Complaining drains energy; contributing creates it.

Bibian Mentel

When Bibian Mentel is 20 years old and has just completed her foundation year in law, she makes a radical decision. She follows her dream, leaving her studies behind for an uncertain life snowboarding in the mountains. She has talent, and before long, she competes in her first World Cup race.

During a training run in December 1999, she tears the ligaments in her ankle. At first, it seems like a routine injury, but the pain persists. Eventually, doctors discover a tumour in her shin. The diagnosis shocks her. She immediately realises that this will have a major impact on her athletic career. But instead of asking, “Why me?”, she asks herself a different question: “What now?”.

Her lower right leg is amputated, yet she refuses to abandon her dream of snowboarding. With a prosthesis, she begins experimenting. She falls countless times and has to completely reinvent her technique. Still, she perseveres. Remarkably, just nine months after her amputation, before she can even walk properly again, she wins the Dutch National Championship for able-bodied athletes.

It's all about Mentelity

Through this experience, Mentel becomes convinced that sport is not about having a perfect body, but about willpower, creativity, and perseverance. She continues to snowboard and also finds deep fulfilment in social impact. In 2012, she establishes the Mentelity Foundation (now the Bibian Mentel Foundation), which helps children and young adults with physical disabilities get involved in sports.

At the same time, she works tirelessly to have snowboarding included in the Paralympic Games. After eight years of lobbying, she succeeds. At the first Paralympic Winter Games to feature snowboarding, in Sochi in 2014, she wins the very first gold medal in the sport. Four years later in South Korea, despite numerous setbacks and against all odds, she wins two more gold medals.

Powerlessness is destructive

Mentel refuses to let her illness define her or to passively accept her fate. As she once put it: “Should I just curl up on the couch and say goodbye?”. Psychological research shows that feelings of powerlessness, the belief that you have no control over outcomes, can be deeply damaging.

When people feel powerless, motivation declines, while frustration, stress, anxiety, and even depression increase. Chronic powerlessness raises stress hormone levels, which can seriously harm long-term health. It can also lead to learned helplessness: when repeated efforts seem ineffective, people stop trying altogether, even in new situations. This downward spiral is hard to escape and can eventually lead to burnout.

Taking matters into your own hands

The opposite is also true. Where powerlessness breeds apathy, self-efficacy fosters optimism and well-being. Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to handle challenges successfully. It’s not just about skill, but about having the confidence in your own capacity to act.

People with strong self-efficacy are more likely to take initiative and persist when things get difficult. This increases motivation and often leads to better performance, because they work with focus and determination. It also strengthens resilience, helping them learn from setbacks instead of giving up. Ultimately, self-efficacy reduces anxiety and creates a greater sense of control.

Taking action has a powerful positive effect on how we feel. Research also shows that contributing to others or to society is linked to greater satisfaction, happiness, and overall well-being. Mentel experienced this firsthand through her work beyond snowboarding, which gave her a deep sense of purpose.

Stop complaining, start contributing

In a world filled with negative news, feelings of helplessness are never far away. Once you’re caught in that spiral, it’s hard to break free. Mentel, however, radiated enthusiasm and positivity: “Every day I worry is a wasted day”. Her advice was not to focus on limitations, but to look for possibilities and act on them. That action doesn’t have to be big or dramatic. Even small steps and modest improvements can create a powerful sense of progress.

If you want to get through 2026 feeling strong and energised, remember this: complaining drains energy; contributing creates it.

This article was originally published in Dutch on MT/Sprout, the most popular business and management platform in the Netherlands.