Maintaining Peace and Joy Under Authoritarianism

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“You’ll never reach your destination if you stop to throw rocks at every dog that barks at you” is an aphorism often attributed to Winston Churchill. I hope nobody reading this is so hounded by critics that they need to heed this advice as it’s usually intended, but if we tweak it just a bit, it becomes advice for us all to follow in these current times. You see, there are so many outrageous things being said and done by the current POTUS, his administration, and his enablers that we would be well-served to consider a variation: “We’ll never successfully resist fascism if we fritter away our energy being outraged at everything there is to be outraged about.


Ferocious dog superimposed on Presidential portrait

I’m not suggesting we ignore injustice, turn a blind eye toward inhumanity, or normalize authoritarianism. I am suggesting, however, that we risk burning ourselves out, harming our mental health, or otherwise losing our joy when we get caught up in every inane or downright evil development in the ongoing saga of our democracy circling the drain. The key is to find the method or mode of resistance that is appropriate for us such that we may maintain our motivation and energy level, and keep our eyes on the prize, so to speak.

If you’re good at writing to elected officials, by all means do so. Stay informed enough to be timely without losing the very peace that allows your words to be effective. If you have money to donate, do so. Become in-the-know about important political races where your money might help the most. Connect with nonprofits that are helping those most hurt by the current policies of destruction. Become active in your community helping those who are most vulnerable. Volunteer. If you have a gift for organizing, help bring like-minded individuals together so that synergy might be achieved. If you have the constitution to be down in the trenches, protest. Take up the banner that someone else would love to carry but can’t for whatever reason they may have. But, please, for your sake and the sake of the nation, don’t dissipate your lifeforce doom-scrolling about the latest detestable actions being engaged in by this regime.

If we remain focused on those things we can actually accomplish, and which can make a meaningful difference, the outrage of the day will not be so debilitating. We will be aware of what’s happening without being distracted or dragged down by it. We’ll be able to rest more easily knowing that we’re doing what we can. In this way we may maintain our joy and peace. And in so doing we may maintain the effectiveness of our action.

Be well, and remain joyful in your efforts.

    

    Peace,

    Mark  

 


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This post is in the Power, Practice, and Peace series.

Find a running list of all posts in this series by clicking here



Images


U.S. Air Force Photo of Military Dog Barking by Josh Plueger via:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Military_dog_barking.JPG

Official Inaugural Portrait of Donald Trump by Daniel Torok via:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TrumpPortrait_(cropped).jpg

 

Copyright 2025 by Mark Robert Frank

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