Facing Despair and Finding Hope

Since the election, I've felt a multitude of emotions. Today, I woke up with a pit in my stomach. I initially thought it was dread, but with some reflection, I realized I felt despair. Despair, a complete feeling of hopelessness, is suffocating—overwhelming, like paralysis.

The most effective ways that authoritarians take power is by scaring people.They want to make us so afraid of consequences that we outlaw action ourselves. Despair is easily weaponized by those who subscribe to a power-over leadership. When we lose hope, we stop believing change is possible and easily comply.

But hope is the antidote to despair.

This kind of hope is contagious. One person’s courage to engage in acts of kindness, compassion, or solidarity can inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect that challenges the status quo. Hope fuels connection, and connection builds resilience within communities. It reminds us that we are not alone and that together, we can face challenges that might have seemed insurmountable in isolation.

I’ve been reflecting on how I can flip my pain into purpose - to help people in my life. I’m choosing small and daily actionable commitments of courage, kindness, honesty, and care for my clients, my children, my community, and my neighbors. 

Help and be helped.

Taking actionable steps toward hope—whether that’s checking in on a neighbor, joining a community initiative, or teaching children about empathy and standing up for what’s right—becomes a form of resistance. It counters the silence that fear seeks to impose and helps to rebuild a sense of agency. By committing to hopeful actions, we embody the belief that “I can do hard things” and inspire others to do the same.

I own a t-shirt that says 'Raise Good Humans.' I’m off to pick up my littles from preschool—and putting that mission statement into action.

What small step toward hope can you take today? Whether it’s showing kindness, speaking up, or simply checking in on someone, your actions matter.