What do we do now?
What do we do now?
Grieving and Readiness for Political Change
Hi there, let’s begin with a big breath or two. This might be a long read, but dense, dynamic times require simple, multi-faceted approaches. Find the approaches that work for you. Here we go:
Grieve, Rest, Get Ready.
All changes, joyful or painful, require grief to accept and move with. If we’re experiencing elation, we must grieve the suffering we left behind - to put it to rest so a new chapter of life can begin. If we are in pain and facing what feels like an impossible truth, we must grieve to accept it in order to find a way forward to joy.
Grief comes and goes on its own time. Give it space by resting whenever possible. Personally, I’ve taken a bath every day since election day. Giving myself space to grieve and rest gives me the opportunity to let my body settle into the truth so I can do what I need to about it. Grief and rest give me opportunity for integrity -where my authenticity and action meet. I can’t act if I’m exhausted. Neither can you.
Rest. Breathe. Now.
Once you find a break in your grief and READY for action, continue reading. Not a moment sooner.
The Revolution Starts Now. With you.
We have been shown, very clearly, how financially, culturally, and relationally invested in our own pain we are as a nation.
We have succumbed to our own scarcity mindsets and fear-based lifestyles and that choice will continue to affect our access to freedom, joy, self-determination, health, and wealth.
What happened this election is a very natural human response. I know, it might seem counterintuitive, but let me explain:
Human minds are loss averse. We look for things we are afraid of so we can avoid them. We invest our attention and focus into our pain. We look for ways to mitigate loss before it even happens because we’re so afraid of the discomfort, pain, and punishment that could come with loss. We guess. We assume. We get stuck.
Now you, you’re probably more interested in shared prosperity than most. Otherwise you wouldn’t be reading my work. You’re likely a very caring person who doesn’t want others to suffer needlessly. And, I urge you with the utmost tenderness and dire heartbeat - be aware of any times you may want to villainize someone else to avoid facing your own pain. Blaming, shaming, or letting guilt keep you from acting on your own behalf is the unfortunate strategy that got us here - and facing it is how we get out together.
It’s ok. Be uncomfortable with me for a minute - I assure you we will get through this together.
In wealth, we’ve been conditioned to look for what we don’t have. We say we want more money but aren’t willing to be uncomfortable or grow as people to get it. We think it will magically come to us and everything will work out if we just follow some easy rules. Let me be clear here: the “Rules” are sexism, classism, racism and any vertical ranking system attached to resources. By focusing on what we lack, we invite more lack - not abundance or wealth.
If you’re anxious about the election results like I am, it’s because we’re looking for pain to avoid. Our anxiety is telling us that we need to take action, so take a moment to thank our anxiety and then set it down so we can figure out what to do with it. The majority of Americans responded to their own anxiety by voting for someone who offers comfortable, seemingly painless, easy lies over someone who offered work and accessibility. People don’t BUY discomfort unless they’re ready for change. We were not collectively ready for change…… YET.
Let’s get simple. Choose your own Change. Today
Specialize in one of the following strategies to support change. No need to master all of them, just get really really good at one or two. Get known for it - you might even get paid for being known/good at it! Here’s an article for more depth.
PROTECT PEOPLE
Usually best suited for those with power, privilege and assets to share.
Mutual Aid Organizing: Tell people what you can offer and do it.
Housing, transportation, making food for people, lessening burdens
Support education/institutions so marginalized people can uplift themselves easier. Volunteer. Donate. Make a list of your fave orgs and share it with people who have money! (Please put me on that list - my work has never been more important and I’m disabled, non-binary, and queer AF. I need the help.)
ONLY OFFER WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY TO SHARE. Nobody wants your resentment on top of their government-approved suffering
DISRUPT
Use your body and autonomy and say NO, so others can say YES to life
Take self-defense and street paramedic courses. Ask someone in the “Protection” department for help if you can’t afford it
Organize protest. Here’s a whole course on it. Strikes. Walk outs. Sit ins and so much more.
Be prepared for the consequences - jail, higher taxes, losing a job etc. Your bravery saves lives
SAFEGUARD INSTITUTIONS
Develop a relationship with anyone you can who works in organizations like the EPA, Immigration, Healthcare, Government
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY THEM. Do not let them ignore the vulnerable.
Tell your government representatives what you want. Make the system work better by participating more in it
Invest in Businesses and Organizers
Follow influencers outside your personal identity groups
Follow small businesses that you want to stick around.
BUILD ALTERNATIVES
This is my specialty. If it’s yours too, let’s connect
Use encrypted communication
Build or use a timebank for mutual aid!
Build a culture around how to move together even when in conflict
Practice boundaries. Invest in your integrity. Align your actions with your ideal self.
HEAL YOUR RELATIONSHIP to MONEY. Seriously. Take my free quiz to get started. It literally costs you nothing to begin healing America’s deepest wound and how it has affected you. Your investing in your pain ends today.
Follow marginalized content creators. Even if you don’t feel comfortable with what they say, following them gives them a louder platform. The truth will sift out naturally. You might even learn something new and fascinating.
How do I know which path is best for me?
TAKE INVENTORY!
Yes. Bust out a sexy spreadsheet. Take inventory of what you have. Our resources extend far beyond just our money.
Assets, money, belonging
Time, space, energy
Skills, Creativity
Connections, Venues, powerful people, and wealth-giving paths you can pursue or share with others
Passions. Ex: cooking, cleaning, running, baths, etc. What fills your cup?
Decide what you can afford to share. Decide what feels good and regenerative to share. Decide to SHARE IT. Today. Now. Offer it and see who takes you up on it.
Your personal path to collective abundance can only be shown to you when you first share from a place of your own abundance.
You can do this.
We can do this.
Together.
Candis Fox is a Wealth and Integrity Coach dedicated to making Revolution Delicious, Easy, and Accessible to people invested in their own integrity & truth.