Hope as an Antidote to Despair
The world is on fire in new and profound ways which seem to layer immense grief on top of the existing weariness so many of us were already feeling. The last few weeks have starkly shown us how systems of power and oppression continue to perpetuate unfathomable violence. ‘Weltschmerz’ (as defined here by Self Space as ‘a sense of grief at how the world keeps falling short of expectations’) perfectly encapsulates our collective melancholy at the current state of the world.
What does it mean to watch ethnic cleansing in real time? To scroll past videos of parents writing their children’s names on their arms so that they can - at the very least - be buried in marked graves, should they be killed in an airstrike? How can we look on? And what does it mean to look away? Despair seems to permeate all of our conversations and interactions right now. But the trouble with despair is that it leads to overwhelm, which, in turn, leads to a sense of powerlessness. In these circumstances, the temptation to block out, to numb, and to disengage can be incredibly potent.
The powerful institutions that are ravaging the planet, displacing millions, and devaluing human life rely on our hopelessness for their continued grip on power. They rely on our belief in the futility of our actions. Hope, then, can be an act of resistance. Social justice movements have a long history of channeling hope into action - defining it not as mindless optimism, but as a catalysing force.
As the author & activist Rebecca Solnit remarked back in 2016:
“This is an extraordinary time full of vital, transformative movements that could not be foreseen. It is also a nightmarish time. Full engagement requires the ability to perceive both.”
So we can look to activists and thinkers of both past and present for a blueprint in hope, and a rejection of despair. As the great James Baldwin put it: “I never have been in despair about the world. I’ve been enraged by it. I don’t think I’m in despair. I can’t afford despair. I can’t tell my nephew, my niece. You can’t tell the children there’s no hope.”
Ensuring we don’t get lost in a sea of overwhelm means getting crystal clear about what we can and cannot influence. As far as I know, there are no world leaders reading this newsletter (yet!) - and likely no one with a direct influence over foreign policy, or control of entire military forces. And yet history shows us that the brave actions of a few people can create waves of transformative change.
Source: PositivePsychology.com - Understanding the Circles of Influence, Concern, and Control by Anna Katharina Schaffner, Ph.D.
Drawing out our Circles of Influence, Concern, and Control is a simple exercise that can energise and give clarity.
For example:
Circle of Control might contain; our own emotions, our self-care routine, our social media intake, our sources of reading.
Circle of Influence might contain; attending protests, conversations with friends, writing to our political representatives, community outreach.
Circle of Concern might contain; government policy, the opinions of people online, the actions & behaviour of politicians.
Start with the innermost circle - consider the internal work you can do and the direct control you have over your own internal universe, before working your way outwards and considering the external things you can influence. As a final step, it is helpful to name the things that concern you, but that are outside the realms of your control; doing so drastically minimises time wasted ruminating on them.
The past few weeks have been a cacophony of noise. Social media has lived up to its reputation for misinformation, animosity, tribalism, and dehumanisation. But amidst the noise, a number of voices have provided me with wisdom, strength, and inspiration. They’ve sharpened my thinking and deepened my knowledge.
Below is a (non-exhaustive!) list of people whose bravery I’ve been inspired by, accounts & posts I’ve been informed by, and resources I’ve returned to for guidance:
Wael Al-Dahdouh (Palestinian journalist who found out his wife and children were killed live on air and has continued to report through his unimaginable grief)
Marie Beecham (her recent post on virtue signalling & performative activism in particular)
Rabbi May Ye’s rousing speech at a recent rally in Hartford, Connecticut
Audre Lorde’s urgent words in The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action. Having been recently diagnosed with cancer at the time of writing, she states:
“In becoming forcibly and essentially aware of my own mortality… priorities and omissions became strongly etched in a merciless light, and what I most regretted were my silences. Of what had I ever been afraid?… I was going to die sooner or later, whether or not I had spoken for myself. My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s perspective on US withdrawal from the Vietnam War (as posted by his daughter Bernice King). This interview clip from over 50 years ago offers deep wisdom for the present moment:
"I think our power must be much more than military power. We don't need to prove to the world, or to anybody, our military power, we've got to prove our moral power."
In times of unbearable Weltschmerz, we can look to the wisdom of our contemporaries as well as our ancestors and elders to educate us. We can hone in on our circles of control and of influence. And we can use hope as a galvanising force that propels us into action.
