Protect Your Energy
We live in exhausting times. Those of us watching in disbelief since November that half of those who voted picked the orange felon…again… despite all he’s guilty of is mind melting. Many of us have distanced ourselves from family members and friends who feel like strangers now—lost in a cult of (lack of) personality. We’re sad, but most of all, we’re tired. So tired.
It reminds me of how it felt at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. So much bad/conflicting information. Not much of a surprise, considering the orange felon (pre-conviction) was in charge then.
I was living and working in my condo and wasn’t sure what to believe. Like everyone else, I was sifting through the news and trying to figure out what was true and what wasn’t. Talking with friends and neighbors and working together to interpret what we were hearing and trying communally (socially distanced, of course) to make sense of it.
Now, we’re in a similarly dangerous position, but my toxic positivity has returned after a dearth of joy since November, reminding me I have the benefit of experience to help me navigate these uncharted waters. It doesn’t offer all the answers, but it does give me some foundational measures to take.
The action I know as an absolute to take before anything else is to protect my energy. I don’t have an unlimited supply to squander needlessly. No one does. (If you do, please contact me about some work I need done around the house.) Like any other naturally occurring resource, I have to budget what I decide to spend my energy on.
It can be hard not to get overwhelmed while seeking news, and it can be easy to unplug completely, disengage and tune out. But, there is a place somewhere in the middle where I can find hints of solace while staying informed and—even more importantly—feel like I’m doing something to be part of the solution.
Pick a handful of news sources you trust. Independent media is your best bet. I made some recommendations in a previous post.
Limit the amount of time you seek out news. If you need to set a timer, set a timer. It’s easy to find news once you start looking, and even easier to fall down rabbit holes. Be mindful of the time you spend on it.
Connect with your community. Talk to your friends and those in your circle who feel the same way you are. Just sharing the burden of our feelings makes them feel a little lighter. Sharing coping techniques and just connecting on a human level with a friend feels good.
Pick one cause. Find a cause you believe in passionately and support it with your money, time, and energy. A focused beam has more precision, and you’ll join in with others, focusing their energies to make a greater impact.
Put on your Oxygen mask first. Like on the airplane demonstration, put your mask on—take the time for your self-care. Once you do, you’ll feel more like helping others with theirs.
As I wake up each morning, I feel infinitesimally more optimistic that we can stop the march of this darkness that has covered our country with its shadow of greed, malice, and divisiveness. We can right it together.