How to Live Happily With Your Social Outrage

Dear Young Protesters:

First let me say, I am so inspired by your convictions, impressed by your quick organizing skills, motivated by your love and positive energy for one another and for us all to create a better society. Thank You. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for doing so much hard work. You nurture my soul, my belief in our shared humanity; you give me hope.

Now let me say I see and understand your anger. In fact, I am glad you are angry. I have been angry for a long time and that means it sometimes becomes a smoldering ember and loses the immediacy of the flames. However, sometimes this has been necessary for my own self-preservation. I do not want your anger to consume you. I hope you can learn to live with it as a light, a beacon to others.

I am not a trained mental health professional, though I have talked to a few for my own benefit. I am not a religious leader, though I do believe we have sacred energy that we share with all of the universe. Through my own reflections and anger, I have found some strategies that have helped me maintain my energy to improve this world and also enjoy the beauty in it. I hope you are doing the same.

Here are a few things I’ve learned:

• Never let an injustice go unchallenged.
• Do not try to lead every fight. Supporting others is critical to each and every human finding their own power.
• Keep a sanctuary where you find love, renewal of your positive energy.
• Stay focused on the positive that you are building, that will be more important than the negative you are fighting.
• Stay open, keep learning.
• Focus your energy. None of us can do it all as an individual but if each individual focuses on one piece of the problem, it can all be changed.
• Find concrete actions to ask of others.
• Be strategic in your fight.
• Set goals that are clear to others.
• Learn the system you hope to change.
• Get ready for leadership before the opportunity comes to you.
• Don’t forget about your own inner work.
• Take the time to educate yourself, discover your principals and keep having the big idea conversations with those close to you.
• Find people who challenge your ideas constructively.
• Find mentors and mentees. It is bigger than any one of us.

I’m sure there is more but this is what I can say for now. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This is a long fight and we will need each and everyone of us in it.

Thank you.