02/23/2025
Making a Difference
There are a lot of changes going on in the world at the same time. Sometimes, it's too many to keep up with, it can be overwhelming and anxiety provoking.
You may think I'm just one person what can I do. We can all do our part, speak up, write a letter to our senators, representatives, mayors and councilman.
We can boycott our favorite stores and write them letters too.
We can keep helping in our communities, keep making a difference.
As John Lewis would say start some good trouble. We can show up even when we're uncomfortable. We can keep going in our pain and distress. All of us can do something, make some noise.
I did this morning I sent emails to all of my representatives, senators, mayors and councilman about the impact of DOGE on our communities.
I plan to contract my favorite stores to let them know of my plan to boycott until the DEI initiatives are restored. Let's do this, together we can make a difference!
I came across this great reminder and I wanted to share it to empower you.
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When supporting clients overwhelmed by what is happening in our country right now and who are struggling with what to do about it, I find helpful these wise and important words from sociologist Jennifer Walter:
"As a sociologist, I need to tell you: Your overwhelm is the goal.
1/ The flood of 200+ executive orders in the President's first days exemplifies Naomi Klein's "shock doctrine" - using chaos and crisis to push through radical changes while people are too disoriented to effectively resist. This isn't just politics as usual - it's a strategic exploitation of cognitive limits.
2/ Media theorist McLuhan predicted this: When humans face information overload, they become passive and disengaged. The rapid-fire executive orders create a cognitive bottleneck, making it nearly impossible for citizens and media to thoroughly analyze any single policy.
3/ Agenda-setting theory explains the strategy: When multiple major policies compete for attention simultaneously, it fragments public discourse. Traditional media can't keep up with the pace, leading to superficial coverage.
The result? Weakened democratic oversight and reduced public engagement.
What now?
1/ Set boundaries: Pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can't track everything - that's by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.
2/ Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events.
3/ Remember: Feeling overwhelmed is the point. When you recognize this, you regain some power. Take breaks. Process. This is a marathon.
4/ Practice going slow: Wait 48hrs before reacting to new policies. The urgent clouds the important. Initial reporting often misses context
5/ Build community: Share the cognitive load. Different people track different issues. Network intelligence beats individual overload.
Remember: They want you scattered. Your focus is resistance.”
