Coping Techniques?

[El]

I came across this list of ways to help us resist and thrive. I can't stress this enough: Find what works for you and keep at it. This link provides 7 really helpful (and relatively simple) ways to take care of yourself while you are also resisting.

As a self-proclaimed introvert and empath (or highly sensitive person, however you want to call it), it's important to me to find ways of recharging when my battery otherwise runs low, which has been happening more and more frequently (and my autoimmune disorder hasn't helped either). This includes tips that are feasible even for the most run-down person.

My personal favorite (besides the reading of social injustices which, I think, goes without saying):

5. I will be aware of myself as one who creates.

The goal of injustice is to breed passivity — to make us believe that things happen to us, events happen to us, policies happen to us. To counteract this, we need to stay in touch with our sense of personal power. One goal is to see ourselves as people who create, whether it’s cooking a meal, organizing a dazzling dramatic action, knitting a hat, making a sign, or playing the piano. We are more than consumers, and our humanity must be affirmed.

I have been knitting scarves, initially for the Women's March which I was not able to take the scarves to after all; but I want to continue so I can donate these items to women's shelters, or to the resistors at Standing Rock, or somewhere else that can fully benefit from scarves right now. It seems like such a small thing, but it's truly not, and it keeps me in touch with my personal power, as the article points out.

[Anita]

Thanks for that El, it is easy to be consumed by feelings of frustration and hopelessness with every little battle it seems we lose. Being reminded that fighting is more important than ever in these moments of defeat is important.

For me, committing to finding my own reliable sources for news is a good one. I tend to peruse social media and honestly the more I do, the worse I feel. This is probably the worst place to get any unbiased news as we all know these articles focus on headlines, clickbait, and inciting strong emotions.