If you’re the type to read this blog, you’ll probably agree that it’s been a pretty long year this week.
Most of you likely fall somewhere between “I’m aware of what’s happening but protecting my mental health” and “I’m glued to every executive order and horrifying headline, feeling dead inside.”
I remember trying to focus during a Zoom meeting on January 6, 2021, discussing initiatives while unprecedented events unfolded in the background. Now, it feels like we’re living that experience every day.
It’s easy to doom scroll and spiral into hopelessness. Even if you want to fight back or reclaim your power, feeling powerless is understandable.
Today, I want to talk about a small but radical step we can all take to reignite hope.
The Manipulation of Perspective
If you feel overwhelmed, it’s not your fault—it’s by design.
- Hundreds of executive orders flood the news at once, overwhelming focus.
- Bots troll every network, baiting people into pointless arguments.
- Big tech algorithms are being manipulated through acquisitions, bans, or regulation threats to control what you see.
This strategy keeps us distracted and worried—and it works.
To fight back, start by recognizing two things:
- This chaos is manufactured.
- The real world, right in front of you, still exists.
It’s that second one that’s the hardest to remember.
Losing Perspective
Have you experienced this lately?
- How often were you lost in your phone, obsessing over the state of the world?
- How often did you mentally check out and lose your spark for important work?
- How often were you doom scrolling instead of being present with loved ones?
For me, it happened almost hourly this week. I bounced between dissociation, dread, and wanting to leave the country. I felt disconnected from everyone and everything.
But a few times, the spell broke. In those moments, I felt hopeful and empowered to create change.
Gaining Perspective
One thing that broke the spell for me was this thread by Mishell Baker.

It reminded me of my Three Lenses model and ideas from Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. The message is simple: Enjoy the present moment, because none of us are here forever.
This perspective led to a powerful moment of clarity for me.
Changing Perspective
One morning, after an ill-advised bout of doom scrolling in bed, I went downstairs feeling grumpy and defeated.
As I walked into the kitchen, my daughter locked eyes with me. Like every morning, I knelt down as she ran full speed, shouting, “Morning hug!” She tackled me and hugged me with all the strength her little body could muster.
In that moment, all my worries disappeared. I felt joy—pure, unshakable joy. It sharpened my focus, strengthened my resolve, and clarified my priorities.
That’s when I realized the power of what I’m calling “Joy Triggers”
Joy Triggers
Habits often follow this pattern:
Trigger → Action → Reward
My morning hug is a Joy Trigger:
- Trigger: Walking into the dining room
- Action: Morning Hugs!
- Reward: Feeling joy
This joy helps me regain perspective, rediscover creative energy, and be fully present with my family. It reinforces my purpose as a partner and parent.
As the saying goes, “Show me your habits, and I’ll show you your future.” Building habits that center joy is a radical act as everything feels out of our control.
Radical Habits
Don’t mistake what I’m saying.
This isn’t an escape—it’s a way forward.
In Let This Radicalize You by Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes, the authors highlight the countless unseen acts of resistance that get overshadowed by the recognized and celebrated victories. This could include caring for an injured protester, sustaining a coalition through disagreements, or covering legal costs for those suffering at the hands of state-sponsored injustice.
These acts help sustain the fight for another day.
But we can’t fight if we’re drained.
It’s easy to fall into toxic positivity, dissociate, or pretend nothing is wrong. But facing the horrors, committing to do your part, and leaning into what the darkness hasn’t taken from us is a far more powerful and effective strategy.
The fascists don’t get to win by default—or by cheating.
Find your Joy Triggers. Hold onto connection and the magic of being present. Make art, write, and keep speaking up.
We have the numbers, and their greatest weapon is making us forget that. Don’t let them.
Find your Joy Triggers and reignite the sparks of hope.

I hope you enjoyed this post!
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