Activist’s Exhaustion and the Wave of Negativity

Last updated on: February 8, 2012 at 2:56 pm by Peter Dybing

Activist’s Exhaustion and the Wave of Negativity 2012-02-08T14:56:00-06:00 Peter Dybing

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There are so many issues in the world that can raise my ire. In just the last week we have been bombarded with:

• Numerous reports of the Komen vs. Planned Parenthood debacle

• A dishonorable effort to tarnish the Girl Scouts with demagoguery

• News that a small-minded news outlet, The Daily Mail, is now the most popular in the world

• The DC police eviction of Occupy protesters

• A Fundamentalist assault on science in primary education

Each of these stories scar my inner being with sadness, revulsion and an urge to “Do Something”, speak out, take corporeal action that will affect change.

As a worker of magic I am tempted to use what few resources I have in “opposition” to these events. Yet there is a disturbing inner tug on my thought process that constantly reminds that to be in opposition is to give credence to these events, even empower them to envelope the world in ever-greater waves of negativity. There are times when all the negativity leaves me feeling chained to the world’s troubles, ever the witness to tragedy, ignorance and suffering.

Often I find myself needing to take a deep breath, step away, and ground myself in who I am and what I believe. In not immediately reacting, I can often find ways to affect change by focusing on the possible positive outcomes of these events. I can choose to be in support of solutions instead of in opposition to most of the events that tarnish humanity.

So today I have given money to Planned Parenthood in positive support of their efforts. This week I have purchased more Girl Scout cookies than I have in the last five years. I have refocused on obtaining news from reliable sources. I will continue my support for the Occupy movement not in opposition to the 1%, but in support of Freedom of Speech and positive change, I have joined the Clergy Letter Project where hundreds of clergy this week around the world will be focusing on how religion and science can be complementary.

These may seem inconsequential differences in my activism, for me however, they make a huge difference. In taking positive action I can avoid the exhaustion that inevitably follows “taking the bait” and being in opposition.

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