View acceptance of current realities as empowerment, not surrender, enabling you to adapt and rebuild in the face of challenges. This is the first step to clearly see what is and then take action, rather than denying or giving up.
Prioritize building tight connections and trust within your community, as this is the ultimate salve for anxiety and a crucial foundation for a resilient future. Connect with neighbors around shared basic needs like water, energy, and food supply to turn anxiety into action.
Combat anxiety by taking action. Even if the action isn’t directly related to the problem causing your anxiety (e.g., volunteering at an animal shelter), it restores your sense of agency and nobility, which helps your mental state.
When deciding what actions to take, ask yourself ‘What do you love? What are you good at?’ This approach allows you to contribute effectively to global problems, as the climate story touches every part of life.
Be deliberate about your media consumption and don’t let it wash over you. Consciously choose what content you engage with (‘feed the right wolf’) to shape your algorithm, improve your mood, and avoid using social media for deep emotional needs.
Avoid ‘othering’ those with different views, even if they seem to be contributing to problems. Practice empathy by understanding the causes and conditions of their behavior, which does not preclude taking action but improves communication and progress.
Recognize that societal structures, values, and even problems are shaped by stories people agree upon. Be open to changing these narratives and understand that positive change doesn’t require extreme sacrifices or adherence to outdated stereotypes.
Actively tell and seek out positive, hopeful stories about a cleaner, more resilient future, rather than solely focusing on doom and gloom. Frame the vision as a ‘dream’ to inspire and motivate action, similar to Dr. King’s approach.
When global issues feel overwhelming, focus on acting locally. Engage with your immediate community, attend local meetings (like utility board meetings), and share information to influence decisions that directly impact your future.
Overcome ‘pluralistic ignorance’ by talking about important issues, even if uncomfortable. Many more people care and are allies than you might realize, and open conversation is crucial for discovering shared concerns and solutions.
Adopt a mindset of preparedness for future challenges, understanding that past conditions are no longer prologue. This includes practical readiness and building resilience for your family and community, like learning how to read a paper map.
Consider adopting principles like the ‘passive house’ design for shelters, which uses significantly less energy, is healthier, and more resilient. This demonstrates how rethinking physical structures can lead to drastic reductions in waste without major lifestyle changes.
Direct your criticism and ‘scorn’ towards the ‘storytellers who are misinforming,’ rather than just those who believe the misinformation. Hold accountable those who deliberately hide or distort the truth about major issues.
Acknowledge and act on the responsibility of wealthy countries to support less fortunate communities, especially in the global South, who have thin margins of financial error and lack capacity for adaptation when crises hit.
Shift the narrative from ‘saving the Earth’ (which will be fine) to preserving ’life as we know it’ for humanity. Frame environmental efforts as essential for maintaining human quality of life, modern society, and future generations.
Consider replacing traditional lawns, which are ‘horrible for the ecosystem,’ with more ecologically friendly alternatives. This is a specific action to improve local environmental health and contribute to a healthier planet.
When faced with scary or overwhelming events and problems, actively ’look for the helpers’ – the people who are working to address the issues. Connecting with them can provide inspiration and a path to action.
For your mental well-being, strategically choose to ignore certain overwhelming or negative stories some days to balance your emotional state. This is a personal coping mechanism to prevent burnout and maintain perspective.
Understand that significant social change can be enacted if a relatively small percentage (e.g., three and a half percent) of a nation’s populace is engaged on a daily, persistent basis. This empowers individuals to believe their actions matter.