Crafting Hope.
Hi friends and family. It feels like we've entered a strange new reality, right? Between trade wars, unelected robber barons, savage wildfires, and the rise of intelligent machines... a LOT is going on.
I'm curious: how are you holding up? What small things are you doing for yourself (or others) to remain hopeful, grounded, etc.?
Speaking for myself, all this chaos has been really overwhelming. Truthfully, I felt a little "stuck" even before all this madness ramped up, but the full-blitz assault on our civil rights and liberties has only made me feel more powerless and frozen. But as this new reality continues to take shape, I realize that now, more than ever, I can't succumb to this feeling of dejection. Because the truth is quite simple: Each of us has the agency, creativity, and grit to resist this rising tide of fascism. And (as cliche as it sounds), together, we can rebuild a world where people are healthy, connected, empowered, and free.
What Gets in the Way?
That is not to say we don't face significant personal, collective, and systemic barriers to creating this change. I was talking with my partner about the challenges we face, and I thought they had a lot of valuable insights. Below are four tactics/mindsets that emerged from our conversations that I think will be particularly helpful for me to avoid that "stuck" feeling and live a values-aligned life of making and shaping the world for the better:
- Start with a tight focus on one area to avoid getting overwhelmed.
- Forget about the enormity of the challenges and focus on small, everyday actions I can take.
- Trust that other people are doing their part and not put pressure on any one of my actions (or even their culmination) to make a visible change
- Remember that this is a long game, and lean in to rest, play, and tending to myself.
There isn't anything magical about these ideas, but I figured I would share them in case they're helpful for anyone else feeling "stuck."
My Commitments
So, in the spirit of playing my part, I wanted to share my focus area, activities, and then a pact to help guide my efforts:
- Area of focus: the intersection of mental health and social isolation. There are a lot of dimensions to this issue (economic pressures, Internet addiction, etc.), but I believe one of the big impacts of social isolation (and poor mental health) is that it makes us more susceptible to polarization and propaganda, which undermines our ability to organize collective action and power.
- My everyday actions: Each of us has something unique to offer. For me, it involves making things - graphics, tools, objects - that can help people get healthier and more connected.
- My Pact: I will spend time every day this year designing/making things geared toward mental health and strengthening one's relationships, and I'll post weekly recaps on Sunday afternoons.
I will start with small projects and micro time commitments (15 minutes a day!) as I build the muscle of showing up consistently, which is something I've struggled with for the last few years. And on the days when I'm really not feeling up for making an object of purpose, I'll still make something just because it makes me smile 🙂
In closing
This is a difficult time, but we have each other. And together, we're so much more powerful than those in power would have us believe.
I hope you're taking care, and I look forward to hearing how you're approaching this time and what small (or even big!) things you're doing to hold up your little corner of the world.
With care,
Max
