Staying Healthy in Extended Crisis, Part 2
A couple of days ago I shared that I thought staying centered in Earth and Spirit (i.e. nature and God / love) was important to our mental and spiritual health during an extended crisis. Which means it’s also going to be important to a successful resistance as we navigate the days, months, and years ahead with a fascist oligarchy holding power over our nation (I originally considered titling these last two posts “How to Survive Fascism”). But I feel like that isn’t the only lesson learned from the new administration’s first mess of a week. Here are a few additional thoughts, some of which aren’t original to me but I think they’re important.
1. We need to pace ourselves. We do need to stay informed, but it’s ok to ignore some of the news. It’s ok to take breaks from the chaos and miss some things. The shock and awe of this first week was by design. We shouldn’t let ourselves be overwhelmed. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
2. Let the experts be experts. There are a lot of really smart people out there. If we’re not an expert in politics or activism or whatever else, we shouldn’t feel like we have to be. When we come across good advice from others, we can share it by reposting articles on bsky.app or substack.com or wherever our community is.
3. Nobody can solve everything. We need to figure out what our niche is and worry about that. I’m definitely not an expert in politics or activism and yet I want to do my part to resist. My problem is I want to save the whole world all at once, but I don’t have the influence or the expertise to do it. No one does. However, there are some things I know like religion and spirituality. And I have skills with writing and computers. Those are areas I can do something with. We each need to figure out what we are called to do with our unique talents, skills and interests. What’s your niche? Of course, there is also stuff we can all do such as write and call our congressional representatives.
4. No action is too small. Realizing we can’t do everything and limiting scope is one thing but knowing how to best respond within that scope is another. In other posts I’ve mentioned ideas I have but knowing what to do and what is helpful is something that will evolve over time with experience. And sometimes we have to remind ourselves to trust God and follow our passion. To just concentrate on what we feel called to do. Even the smallest action can make a big difference (although we might not be able to see it).
5. Get your news fron reliable sources. I check headlines on some mainstream outlets like CNN, the NY Times, and the Detroit News, but more and more I’m checking independent sources like https://www.democracynow.org as well. On bsky.app (the twitter alternative) I follow sources such as The Guardian (@theguardian.com), NPR (@npr.org), and MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) as well.
Robert Reich recommended some news sources he likes in a post from January 23 (item #6 in his 10 ways to resist):
I recommend Reich’s newsletter as a must-read. So is Dan Rather’s “Steady” newsletter on substack. There are plenty of other worthwhile reads on substack as well but those are two of the best that I’ve found so far. If I subscribe to a newsletter, I also currently include it as a recommendation so if you go to kenarthur.substack.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Recommendations” you can see what I’m reading.
Some news sources that were previously considered reliable might not be any more. For example, ABC News settled a lawsuit with Trump that they likely could have won, presumably to avoid future retaliation. The Washington Post has also been favoring Trump as its owner Bezos cozies up to the new administration. Multiple staff have left the Post because of this. In my mind, both of these organizations now seem compromised. My impression is that many other mainstream news outlets (like CNN and the NY Times) also seem to be toning down criticisms of Trump to various degress.
Remember to keep news consumption to a manageable level. We should only do what we have the capacity to do and stay healthy. If needed, we might limit how often we check the news or maybe just skim headlines and limit the number of articles we go deeper on.
6. Be wary of lies. Part of the reason we’ve gotten to where we are is that the President and his supporters have been very effective at gaslighting the nation. Don’t fall victim, like so many have, to lies and conspiracy theories whether they come from the President or other politicians, suspect news media, random people on the internet, or friends and family. They very much people want people so confused that they can’t tell truth from fiction. Keep focused on facts and using reliable sources of news.
7. Be real about the seriousness of what we face. Unfortunately, people are going to suffer and even die as a result of the new administration’s policies. That’s sad and outrageous, but this might get really bad before it gets better. Everyone’s different, but for me, I think I am better prepared acknowledging that very real possibility.
8. Notice the blessings and beauty. With all the evil there is to face it makes the beauty stand out even more. I see something wonderful in people rallying together and trying to figure out how to support each other and resist the new fascism. Not only the people in the news like Bishop Budde, but in friends, in people I know online, and people in the church. There are so many beautiful, wonderful souls to fight for and with.
9. Strike a balance. Don’t forget to stay centered. If you took time to check out what substack newsletters I read you’ll have noticed they’re not all political. Resist but don’t be consumed. Get enough rest. Keep up hobbies, hanging with friends, and having fun.
Blessings to all of you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, advice, and sources of wisdom in the comments!
All wise advice!