@mitenkabutgirl Slightly longer answer: The day I stopped looking to a hypothetical future where all my problems have already been solved was the day I was actually able to acknowledge the ways my material conditions (be it internal or external) were harming me in the present.
@mitenkabutgirl Other than that, volunteering, mostly. The best way to stop feeling helpless is to help others. It also helps to put a time limit on being a self-pitying sad sack. Very few problems that don't need immediate attending to are worth taking up more than 20 minutes out of your day.