Dealing with Helplessness in Uncertain Times
The world feels like it is on fire right now. We have been rocked by an onslaught of harmful rhetoric and policies. Through all of this, we often struggle with finding hope and dealing with helplessness. Maybe you want to shake the whole world and scream “WAKE UP! DO SOMETHING!” Then you have a depressing thought that may sound something like “What can I even do to change it?” Unfortunately, we can’t change the whole world with a snap of our fingers, despite how nice that would be for all of us.
But we do have more power than we give ourselves credit for. Imagine what happens when you throw a rock into a body of water. You see ripples start from the center and then work their way out. The way we create the change we want to see is the same method as those ripples. You are the rock and the people you interact with are the ripples. They go on to interact with other folks causing more ripples to spread. To challenge our helplessness is to take control.
Water is a powerful force for change.
Here are some concrete ideas to reduce helplessness:
1) Teaching: Do you have children? What about nieces/nephews/niblings? How about any siblings? Are there family members who are on the fence and unsure of certain things? Think of how your interactions with them help forge empathy and build relationships. Hate is taught at a young age but so is love and acceptance. We can teach the future generations from our experiences. Most change is facilitated through direct interaction with others.
2) Existence: You’ve probably heard this before. As a marginalized person, your existence is resistance. In a time where queer and trans identities are being erased, your existence is challenging their attempts. Existing is a form of empowerment. You can stand above those who want to eradicate you and tell them “No, I will not give you that power.” Studies have found people are more likely to be accepting of marginalized identities if they know a marginalized person. Even seeing LGBTQ+ folks or Neurodiverse folks in the media helps increase acceptance. You are powerful.
3) Shop with intention: As the saying goes, money is power. After Target made changes to its DEI policy, its stock dropped significantly. Consumers have the power to choose where their money goes (exceptions apply, especially for those with disabilities or in rural areas). Maybe see if that item sold on Amazon is also sold directly from the small business’ website. Look into what business’ promote equity and inclusion. Build a network for bartering goods. Capitalism is fueled by greed and wealth. The less money you give them, the less power they hold over you. For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in your community versus only $43 at big chains.
4) Volunteer: There are SO many ways you can volunteer, especially now that Federal funding for many non-profits has been reduced or eliminated. They need our help now more than ever. By donating your time, you are helping to foster a much needed community for marginalized individuals. Pride events worldwide could not happen without the support of volunteers. Volunteers are frequently needed for setting up and cleaning up events. They could assist with organizing and facilitating events. The possibilities are endless. Contact your favorite local non-profit and ask what you can do to help! Don’t know where to start to find a non-profit? Contact me here to ask.
5) Go to your school board meetings: Here in south central PA, LGBTQ+ youths are facing a torrent of attacks from school boards trying to limit access to bathrooms and participation in sports. You have far more influence at the local level than at the Federal level. People are listening and paying attention to what is going on, especially the kids. You may be surprised how many people change their opinions when they hear from you.
In our current times, the sense of helplessness and hopelessness is very common. We as a local community must work together to support each other. This is not a matter of psychological dysfunction. We cannot use therapy alone to undo the damage done by greed and oppressive systems of power. There are more of us than them.
Sometimes it feels like the world is on fire with no way to put it out.
But together, we can.