Staying Sane in These Times? Anyone?

Numerous global conflicts and human rights violations are unfolding, while climate change drives an increase in severe weather events. In America, the cost of living is rising, food quality has declined, and the education system faces significant challenges. With an election on the horizon, the rights and livelihoods of women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, and working-class families are under constant threat. Furthermore, the impact of technology on mental health has led to increased anxiety and disconnection among individuals. Political polarization and the spread of misinformation also exacerbate these issues, leaving systemic problems that have long favored a privileged few feeling more strained and in urgent need of reform.

There's a family member on Facebook spreading weird religious images and touting political one-liners they’ve read nothing about, and your twelve-year-old cousin is overwhelmed in school due to their inability to critically navigate everything being thrown at them at such a young age. The good, the bad, the false, and the ugly are in front of our faces at all times. We search for ways to compartmentalize, to quiet our minds, go inward, or place activism where we can: call your senator, vote, donate $25 here, etc., hoping our action will help these panic-adjacent thoughts that consistently loom over our day-to-day lives subside. But it all lingers, sitting in our minds and clouding our interactions and ability to truly unplug and relax.

I read something recently that said the world is experiencing a collapse (oh, so it’s not just us?), and from this collapse, something new will emerge. This idea raises important questions: Is this true? If so, what does it mean for the common person? Do we sit idly by and watch these systems fall while also working to establish better ideologies and governing structures? Do we engage in inner work to raise the vibration of the world, shifting the energy and contributing to a new way of thinking and operating? Yes, I’m serious - grab your crystals or something. This invites us to consider both the macro (systemic) and micro (individual) aspects of addressing the current crisis, framing it as both a philosophical question and a practical challenge.

Following the uptick in things getting and feeling worse, people are experiencing unprecedented stress and anxiety, many turning to prescription drugs to help manage their everyday lives. Some have turned to breathwork, guided meditations, journaling, taking a break from the internet and social media, halting their intake of news and media as a whole, and more. But I have to ask, is any of it really enough? Enough to help us unclench our jaws, feel moments of peace, have a thought that things in our world will be okay? Feel “okay” enough to have children? I will say, the people I know that aren’t on social media and haven’t been for years seem significantly lighter than the rest of us—so maybe we start there?

I’ve got a close friend who, anytime I find myself spiraling, usually about these issues, or someone we know acting up, or someone famous doing something weird and outlandish, says, “please touch grass.” I think this sentiment is pertinent for the state of things lately. It would serve all of us well to get outside, host or attend more dinner parties, meet a friend for a walk, travel to places where you’re surrounded by nature, and better yet, meet people who aren’t the same as the ones you see every single day. We seem to be perpetually stuck on this wheel of existing, stressing, and not really living. We need less technology/internet, more social interactions with people who bring us joy and laughter, who help pull us away from the current state of affairs that seem to plague us all to varying degrees. I find that breaking up your mental and/or physical routine helps us recenter and see outside of our self-made bubbles.

I’ll close with this. First, please vote. Your vote does matter to some degree, and for those who have never voted before, registering is easy. You’re not only voting for the presidential candidate; you’re voting for local officials who will make decisions that affect your day-to-day life. Educate yourself on who’s running, what their policies are, if they have any substantive policies other than the persecution of those they don’t like, and what organizations donate to their campaigns.

Next, I encourage you to look into meditation and breathwork. Discover what works best for you, maybe it’s both, and try to carve out ten minutes a day to sit and be with yourself and your thoughts. Further, get outside or get together with friends. It will help you, even if you’re an introvert. Find your people (and better yet, new people) and infuse those interactions into your life. Keep an open mind, try to educate yourself on issues/causes that affect you but also that affect others. Find what matters to you or people you know. Focus on the value proposition of said causes and what those people or organizations are doing and why. If you’re donating your money to an organization, make sure you can follow where the money goes.

While I think there’s a lot of noise online about activism, and this weird thing where if you’re not posting about XYZ issues, you aren’t a good person or humanitarian (a conversation for another time), there is always a cause to get behind and ways in which you can make a positive difference. Lastly, be kind—it goes a long way, and I believe there’s a ripple effect when people pass along kindness that’s been shown to them, no matter how small.

I’m sure I missed a ton of suggestions on how to unburden yourself from the state of things. If there’s something you feel strongly about, or if you feel strongly that things are totally fine in our country (LOL), drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram. I’d love to chat with you about these issues or anything else on your mind, especially since there are so many nuances that surround any one or all of these issues. Okay, time to take my dogs for their morning walk.