Finding Calm and Strength to Overcome Darkness

In its first months in office, the second Trump administration has caused devastation to American families and communities while at the same time directly attacking public interest attorneys and nonprofits that serve those in need by attempting to cut funding sources and threatening prosecution on baseless grounds. The scale of attack has been overwhelming and is disrupting legal and social services as well as social justice advocacy. In the face of the many lawless, unconstitutional, and unjust executive actions, advocates are standing up and fighting back for their clients and the people and communities that are being targeted. 

But those who stand tall may also feel overwhelmed by it all. On days when I’ve found it hard to bring hope to the fight or to muster any fight at all, I draw on stories that inspire me. One such story is the 2018 rescue of 12 teenage boys and their soccer coach who became trapped in Tham Luang Nang Non cave during the height of monsoon season in northern Thailand. It’s a story of true heroism that captured the attention of the world. While the group entered the cave unprepared for such an ordeal, their 25-year-old coach had spent much of his life training to be a Buddhist monk and taught the boys how to calm themselves in the small, pitch-black chamber where they endured for 18 days with almost no food or heat. Their practice of meditation and their ability to maintain a collective positive spirit proved absolutely vital to their survival. 

While quite different from being trapped in a cave, these past few months have unquestionably ushered in frightening times. To get myself out of this metaphorical place of darkness I tell myself that those teenagers and their coach had no map, little food or water, and no plan for escape. While the coach was responsible for bringing the boys into a cave during the perilous monsoons, he didn’t let himself be overwhelmed by guilt or despair. He drew on skills he knew best: coaching and meditation. 

My strategy for coping has been to seek out balance and joy and to do it every day. I take comfort in the loved ones in my life: my wife, my children, our dog, teammates at the office, friends, and family. To assist you in the face of these enormous and ongoing challenges, here are tactics and tips I and my colleagues are using to keep calm and forge on. 

• Find Inspiration – What inspires you? Remind yourself of whatever that source of inspiration may be and use it to help you maintain balance and perspective.
• Triage – To be at our best, everyone needs the time and space to rest and regenerate. Assign shifts so that one person in your organization is on point to respond to emergencies, allowing others to unplug from work and the news for a set amount of time. 
• Practice Self-Protective Measures – Take necessary protective measures as an individual and for your organization. Consider reducing exposure by removing staff email addresses from your website or providing guidance on the use of social media. 
• Gather – More than ever, being in community is important to provide support. Spend intentional time with your friends and family. Convene around things you love in ways that bring you joy. 
• Look to Your North Star – It’s easy to get taken off course amid the barrage of attacks, but you and your organization cannot respond to everything—every funding cut, every legislative threat, every new client who desperately needs help. Be clear on your priorities and what you will act on, and communicate that among your colleagues, leadership, and stakeholders. The only way to navigate the storms is to keep your eye on your North Star.