Those of us who want to build better lives that also help the world tend to be suspicious of optimism. Being optimistic causes you to sit on your butt and do nothing about world problems, right? We need anger, fear and desire to motivate us, no? But what if I told you that the science shows that a 20-minute optimism exercise can actually help you be more effective in building a better life for yourself and a better world for others?
Activism and Social Change
Maintaining Energy As A Change Agent And Other Thoughts
Someone emailed me a bunch of questions as an interview for publication. Questions include What do I worry about for future generations? and How do I maintain my energy as a change agent? and more. I share the answers here.
After The Women’s March, Now What?
The U.S. presidential inauguration has passed. The women’s march is over. For climate, race, women’s rights and so much else, it doesn’t look good to many of us (no matter how we voted). So, now what? In this post, I talk about how to stay involved, how much effort it will take, how to deal with disappointment and frustration, and the tremendous rewards of making an effort. You can watch the video or read the summary.
Five Thoughts On Having Meaningful Impact In This Uncertain World
In response to the questions of whether we can trust Trump or could have trusted Hilary, we might instead say “The real question is, Can we trust ourselves?” Can we trust ourselves to give our attention to creating a world that is fair and just and that is good for all of us to live in. Here are five thoughts on what we can do.
How To Feel Useful After The Election
It’s still unclear, while the dust settles, exactly what we can do to continue bring about the world we want after the U.S. election. But here is a video I made of the actions we can take while we figure it out. Some of the points are summarized below.
Ten Ways I’m Coping Since I Woke Up To A Trump Presidency
So many of us are so worried and sick that I wanted to say a little about how I’ve been coping and plan to move forward since I woke up to a Trump presidency. I’m hoping the ten strategies I list might help you, too.
Why Spiritual Inquiry And Social Advocacy Are One
According the the ancient Zen Master Won Hyo, “Helping oneself and helping others are like the two wings of a bird.” This is why I merge the discussions of spirituality and social and environmental advocacy. A video to watch and some text to read.
On Helping The World Without Wrecking Your Life
So many of us are looking for ways to help this suffering world–happily and safely. For most, the challenge seems to be how to help in ways they feel meaningful. On the other hand, there are also many, many activists, social workers, and others who have found ways to help, but are missing out on the happily and safely part. So, how do we help the world while still having a good life for ourselves?