What You Can Do in the Face of Fear

After the last few days we’ve had as a country, it can be easy to feel heartbroken and helpless. How do we possibly process something as terrible as the loss of 50+ innocent lives? What can we do to make this horrible time any better? 

We’re here to give you a few ideas. We can’t change what happened, but we can have an effect on what has yet to happen.  Rather than accepting this violence as the norm and fearing for our safety, we can choose to create love in the face of fear and hate.

1. Self-care

Check-in with yourself. Take time to find your center and identify the emotions you are feeling. It’s okay to be sad, hurt, scared, and more. You are allowed to feel whatever it is you’re feeling. Don’t hide from it or run away. Move through the emotion one moment at a time and do what you need to do to stay healthy.

Get out into the world and see the beauty that IS there. I know you may want to hide in your home and let fear control your life, but that will only create more fear. We all deserve more than that. Visit family and friends, take a walk in nature, go explore a new area, find a new coffee shop, laugh. There is beauty, there is joy, and there is love all around you. All you have to do is notice it.

2.  Get involved

Your voice matters. It does. After you’ve processed your emotions, use them as fuel to take action. Start locally by asking what your community needs. If you’re in college, get involved in your campus community. The world needs more people who care. I know you’re one of them and I know you can do so much to make your community a better, safer place. One step can turn into a revolution. Start locally so you can act globally.

Done your time, money, blood, food, clothing. Give what you can give and know that something so simple can make a huge difference. You could save a life or give a family hope. Yes, it really CAN be that simple. Imagine what the world would be like if we all donated just a little of what we have, regardless of recognition. You can be the change you wish to see.

3. Create community

Put your phone down and connect with the people around you. I can only image with the families of the Las Vegas victims would give to spend a few more moments with their loved one. Life is short and everything can change in a minutes. Take advantage of what you have right in front of you. The texts, emails, tweets, and updates can wait. You’ll never have this day again.

Host a brave party with your friends! Invite your classmates, dorm floor, or girlfriends over for a night of brave talks. Build a sisterhood of bravery that will echo into your community. All it takes is a safe space, a group of girls, and the bravery to be vulnerable! We’d be happy to meet you in person or digitally!

Start the conversation. It might be about gun control, it might be about healthcare, and it might be about something entirely different. Come to the conversation with an open mind and a readiness to ask questions. It’s perfectly fine to disagree, but it is no longer acceptable to think we can keep going this way.  We’ve seen what division, hatred, and petty fights gives us; why not try acceptance and conversation?

It’s up to each of us to create a sense of community, support, and country. You may think “I’m only one person. What can I do to make any of this better?” More than you know. Reach out to the people around you for support and ideas. Change starts with one person. You can be that one person.