Oh, What We Have Seen. Keeping Your Heart Whole In Heartbreaking Times.
We often talk with social justice activists who feel overwhelmed. They try to feel excited at the possibilities, but find themselves crumbling to a halt, depressed, restless and at times feeling hopeless.
Some of us feel on edge, overly anxious and quick to anger. Our eating habits might be irregular -- eating too little or too much. We can't sleep or we can't stop sleeping. What's going on?
We may be suffering from a form of Post Traumatic Stress Reaction also known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many social justice activists have seen things a person should never have to see. We may experience first hand or through videos and extensive reading the images of war, famine, violent attacks, death and atrocities to people, to the planet and to helpless animals.
These images become burned in our minds and can haunt us in our nightmares and in daytime flashbacks.
Some sufferers of PTSD overcome their symptoms/reactions within months of experiencing the trauma. But what about those of us who by the very nature of our work continue to put ourselves in the middle of the horror? What will happen to us when we continue to see and deal with these horrors day in and day out for years?
These very real and lucid memories can be emotionally crippling and result in a host of reactions in our attempt to manage the pain. We can be blind-sided by depression, anxiety, anger, sleeplessness, nightmares, memory loss, restlessness, jumpiness, fear and amplified emotions. And some of us may try to cope in unhealthy ways.
One of the more disturbing and harmful coping mechanisms can be a form of avoidance. The intrusive thoughts and resulting depression, anxiety and/or anger become so distressing that we try to avoid contact with everything and everyone who might trigger the ill feeling. We may withdraw from our activist friends, we may get less involved, we may threaten and destroy relationships all in an unconscious and sometimes conscious attempt to end the pain.
What can we do?
- First, recognize the symptoms in yourself and in your friends and fellow social justice activists. Be supportive of yourself and of each other.
- Know that your reactions are not at all abnormal. Caring people have open hearts and open minds -- those open hearts and open minds can be easily hurt. The very definition of compassion means "to suffer with."
- Seek the help of a counselor, a healthcare professional, a spiritual advisor, a mentor, a family member, a close friend and/or a support group of your fellow activists.
- Take time to look at the sky, to meditate, to breathe, to laugh, to find the joy in life.
- Turn off your television and tune out the violence. Much of the media is designed to keep the public hyper-aroused, anxious and consuming. Tune out the violence and make room for Nonviolence.
- "Shut off" with your friends. You may have friends that deal with the same tough issues. When you're together recognize that together you already "get it." You don't have to convince each other of anything. Help each other find the positive, look for the good, get creative and build on the joy of having a friend who understands.
- Read a good book. Listen to music. Take a walk.
And, maybe most importantly, recognize that you have awakened. You are doing your best to no longer be a part of the cycle of pain. You are part of what is right in this world. Join with others in that joyful awakening and invite others to join us not in painful awareness, but in joyful activism -- knowing that from this day forward we are going to make the world a better place for all.
Consider visiting the PTSD link at Activist-Trauma.net.
People often ask us, "Can I, one person, really make a difference?"
The question isn't whether or not you can make a difference -- you are making a difference. But what kind of difference do you want to make?
Every word, every action, every bite of food and every bit of consumption have built the world we now live in. And all of those things a billion times over each and every day are building the future. Where are your time, energy and money going? Are you giving to those who will have you lose? Or are you giving to good? It's time to choose.
We were recently reintroduced to the "Ecological Footprint Quiz." It's very educational and very humbling to realize that many of the things we do every day and take for granted are truly not sustainable. Here's a question to ask yourself... "If 6.5 billion people did exactly what I'm doing, would it be sustainable; would it build a better world; would it make life better for people, for the planet and for the animals?"
Take the quiz at ecofoot.org and ask yourself, "What can I do to make a difference... for good?"
Leaders Are Readers: The Essential Writings of Thich Nhat Hanh
A master of Nonviolence, a mindful teacher and a visionary poet, Thich Nhat Hanh offers social justice activists and all of us the benefit of a lifetime of activism, introspection and meditation.
His "Essential Writings" is a great way to introduce yourself and others to the concepts of "interbeing" and Nonviolence. You'll also discover wonderful coping tools for staying active in your pursuit of justice while remaining aware of the beauty around you and within you.
Thich Nhat Hanh calls on each of us to live every moment in working meditation -- and to know that we have the power to change the world for the better... in this breath... and in this breath... and in this breath.
Remember, if you want to order books, consider buying them used or from your local bookstore or online with BookSense.com -- your online source for local bookstores. And share these treasures with a friend or your local library.
Practicing Nonviolence: Love Someone
All we need is love. Seems simple enough, doesn't it? To practice Nonviolence, let's put that love into action. But stretch it -- make it grow. Expand that circle of compassion to the most vulnerable among us. Visit, adopt and/or stand up for an animal.
Most of us have felt the love of an animal -- their unconditional love; that deep, deep connection that seems to go beyond our human connections. We talk to our dogs and to our cats and we know, we just know, they understand us better than anyone. They love us... and we love them.
How wonderful it is to feel that connection and to be able and willing to give that love to every animal -- wild animals, those who we call our pets, and those who still suffer on farms and in factory farms.
Expand your circle of compassion. The wonderful thing about love is that it is an endlessly renewable resource. The more we pour out of ourselves, the more it fills us up.
Words To Live By: "That's All Nonviolence Is -- Organized love. "
"That's all Nonviolence is -- organized love."
-- Joan Baez, singer/songwriter, social justice activist
In this issue …
1. Oh, What We Have Seen. Keeping Your Heart Whole In Heartbreaking Times
3. Leaders Are Readers: The Essential Writings of Thich Nhat Hanh
4. Practicing Nonviolence: Love Someone
5. Words To Live By: "That's All Nonviolence Is -- Organized Love."
About Nonviolence United
Our mission is to see the world become a just home for all -- no more wars, no more hunger, no more suffering of one for the greed of another.
It can be done. And there is a remarkable way to make it happen. A way that builds rather than tears down. A way that allows you to live your ethics rather than selling your soul. A way where everyone is loved and no one is hated. A way that fills you with hope. A way that cannot be stopped and can never be destroyed.
Our Strategy
Teach people that Proactive Nonviolence in their everyday choices will build a better life for them and a better world for everyone. Every action, every word, every bite of food, every purchase has built the world we are in today and will build the world of tomorrow. By being conscious of our connections and by acting in alignment with our values, we will build a future reflective of those values.
- Recognize “economic non-cooperation” (along with the cooperation with good industries and services) as a powerful Nonviolent means of advancing social justice
- Organize and unite the social justice movements within this strategy
- Quickly spread this strategy to the people via the social justice movements
Thank you!
Nonviolence United exists through the kindness and generosity of caring people like you. Please support our ongoing efforts to promote Nonviolence as a way of life and as a way of social change.
Keep Your Ideas Coming!
Nonviolence
P.O. Box 1161
Boulder, CO 80306
T: 720.252.8449
Subscribe or unsubscribe from NonviolenceUnited.org's eNewsletter.