Finding Hope in Difficult Times

The political climate today feels overwhelming, even hopeless. The constant barrage of divisiveness, injustice, and uncertainty leaves many of us questioning how to move forward. But amid this chaos, unease can serve as a compass, guiding us toward greater understanding, action, and connection. This post explores how to navigate feelings of overwhelm and use them as a catalyst for resilience and hope.

1. Understanding the Overwhelm Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless is a natural response to the intensity of our current political landscape. These emotions often arise because we care deeply about justice, fairness, and the well-being of others. Rather than suppressing these feelings, consider them as evidence of your humanity and desire for a better world.

• Overwhelm can indicate that something important to you is at stake.

• Hopelessness might be a sign that you’re deeply invested in creating change but feel powerless.

Reframe these emotions as signals rather than obstacles.

2. Unease as a Tool for Awareness When we lean into our unease, it can help us identify what truly matters. Ask yourself:

• What specific issues or events are triggering my overwhelm?

• What values are being challenged in this moment?

By naming these concerns, we can transform vague hopelessness into actionable clarity.

3. Finding Connection Amid Chaos In times of political insanity, connection becomes a lifeline. Unease can foster solidarity, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles.

• Seek Community: Join groups, attend discussions, or connect with like-minded individuals who share your concerns.

• Share Vulnerabilities: Opening up about your unease can inspire others to do the same, creating a sense of shared strength.

4. Turning Overwhelm into Action Hopelessness often stems from the belief that we can’t make a difference. But small, consistent actions have power.

• Educate Yourself: Understanding the issues can reduce feelings of powerlessness.

• Take Action: Write letters, volunteer, or support organizations that align with your values.

• Set Boundaries: Limit exposure to distressing news and focus on what you can control.

5. Embracing Hope Through Unease Hope isn’t the absence of unease; it’s the decision to keep going despite it. Unease can push us to imagine a better future and take the steps to get there.

• Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and honor progress, even if it feels incremental.

• Focus on What’s Possible: Unease can reveal opportunities for change that we may not have considered before.

The political climate may feel overwhelming, but it also holds the potential for growth, solidarity, and transformation. By embracing unease, we can tap into the power of connection and action, navigating chaos with resilience and hope.

Remember: You’re not alone. Your unease is a testament to your care and commitment. Together, we can channel these emotions into creating a world that reflects the values we hold dear.

What small action will you take today to move from overwhelm to empowerment?

Avoidance

I am an old friend.

Tried and true.

My name is Avoidance.

And I’m here to protect you.

Always there to keep you from harm,

in all the places it may find you.

Should discomfort arrive as you anticipate the blank page that calls you to write,

I’ll keep you from picking up the pen.

Should disappointment creep in when you feel your achievements have fallen short,

I’ll keep you from connecting to what matters most in the first place.

Should heartache beat you down after losing so many loved ones,

I’ll attach your heart to someone who doesn’t know how to love so the pain will never take you by surprise again.

I’ve got your back.

I’ll confuse, confound, distract, and numb.

Whatever it takes to keep you from

discomfort, disappointment, and heartache.

Dear friend,

Thank you for being there.

You have never let me down.

But here is the thing.

The protection you have so lovingly provided,

that is meant to keep me from harm,

also keeps me from living fully.

That kind of protection lacks discernment.

You see, not all discomfort is bad.

I need it to venture and grow.

Not all disappointment is to be avoided.

As it can teach me things, provide perspective, build resilience, and connect me to what matters most.

Not all heartache is bad.

Without love, there is no heartache. Love is worth the risk.

I don’t need to be protected.

I need to be vulnerable.

I need to risk failure.

I need to risk disappointment.

You can trust that I know the boundaries.

And should I stumble and fall, I will get up again ever stronger.

So, thank you dear friend.

And farewell.

Unconditional Writing

Writing used to be a daily ritual. Journaling, free form writing, reflective essays - whatever the name, it was a way that I started my day.

I viewed the pages as a companion, a trusted friend. A place I could always go to release any thoughts that were swirling around inside my head.

The pages did not judge. There was plenty of that coming from me. The pages were there to listen, no matter how dark or self-deprecating the expression. The pages accepted it all.

I miss my friend and the ritual we shared. So why did I abandon her?

Perhaps it was my judgement that the pages had become a place of negativity. That a pattern had emerged of framing my experiences, my reflections, in a short-sighted and non-serving way. That unless I was able to re-write the pages with positivity, they would become more detrimental than beneficial. I questioned the health of the relationship and walked away.

I’ve since learned that censoring myself was causing harm, not writing in a negative frame. While there are benefits to being optimistic and having a positive mindset, avoiding, rejecting, or shutting down emotions is detrimental towards your well being. It can alienate and disconnect you from yourself and from others. It is important to lean into what we’re authentically feeling in the moment, accepting all of our emotions, both positive and negative.

I missed the ritual of my writing, of having a safe place to release my thoughts, and the revelations uncovered over time when revisiting the pages.

So, with this I pledge to:

Re-establish the connection.

Write.

Do not censor.

Let whatever comes, come.

Release judgement.

Accept the words as the pages do.

If patterns appear, notice and accept them.

Work with them, or not.

But show up.

Authentically.

Every day.

The power of curiosity

A quote from T.H. White's Arthurian fantasy novel, "The Once and Future King" is calling to me now. It is a reminder to remain curious, to open my mind and never stop learning. Life is challenging. The longer we live the more suffering we may experience. Regardless of age, or of personal circumstances and that of the world around us, we must never stop asking why. We must never stop learning. In doing so, we can continue to make contributions until we take our last breath, leading a fuller, happier, and healthier life.

“You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.”

- T.H. White

What’s age got to do with it?

We as a society tend to focus on the external body.

This becomes painfully apparent when it comes to aging.

ANTI-AGING.

How can we be against a natural part of life?

We resist, we deny, we demonize.

Turning away from our true nature.

The natural order of things is change.

And with aging, the change that is most evident happens to the physical body.

Any change or transformation to the subtle body seems to get lost, buried in denial and shame.

And yet, the changes to the subtle body can be wonderful and mighty.

Wisdom, patience, deep knowing of self.

Changes to be celebrated.

But this is not something we tend to do as a culture.

We avoid, deny, and seek all possible means to halt the aging process.

Is it our fear of mortality that drives our denial and endless search for youth?

Or is it our unbalanced attention on how we look rather than who we are?

Yes, the aging process can be difficult. It is not all rainbows and unicorns.

The wonderful news is that it provides many opportunities for greater strength, better health, and deeper empowerment, even amid the turbulence.

So how can we shift our collective mindset to embrace the natural order of life and celebrate vitality at midlife and beyond?

Let’s begin with compassionate dialogue. Knowledge. Support. Laughter. Play.

By talking openly about our experiences, our fears, and our victories, we can begin to shift our mindset to the beauty of aging.

Why I Love To…

We all have certain things that can make our hearts and minds soar.

Activities that fully express a part of who we are, our authentic self.

One of these things for me is dance, both as observer and participant.

Its impact on me is undeniable.

It produces a shiver of excitement that originates from inside my body and expands outward.

I’m fully present in the moment - this, here, now, is what makes me who I am.

What is it that you love to do or experience?

What is the thing that makes you feel vibrant and alive?