Most of us who have some semblance of decency, rationality, and moral clarity (a category which necessarily excludes all who have slipped irrevocably into the vortex of the Trump Cult) are well aware that we are facing today a primordial disaster in the Trump regime’s relentless coup d’etat against the fundamental institutions of constitutional democracy on which our nation was founded — the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the basic norms of civility between opposing parties that makes democracy possible. With the past election, we may well have passed the event horizon, beyond which our downward spiral into the vortex of fascism, oligarchy, kleptocracy, civil strife, and chaos becomes irreversible. We may already be living, that is, in the Former United States of America, as we watch the norms of democracy and the rule of law collapse all around us.
This has many, even most, of us traumatized and demoralized — which is exactly what the sinister corporate fascists of Project 2025 had planned, in direct imitation of Hitler’s playbook — the rapid and violent seizure of the basic institutions of German government and mass media in 1933, which overwhelmed all opposition and left him with absolute, unchallenged power, backed by big money on one side and a violent, fanatical, media-driven cult of personality among working-class citizens on the other.
So what can we do? There is no shortage of mournful analyses of why this has happened, or recommendations for action, but these are scattershot at best, and they overlook the foundation for any action whatsoever: overcoming our own (and others’) trauma, dread, and despair. So here are a few recommendations for practices we can undertake every morning, or whenever we feel overwhelmed by the horror of it all. A “practice” is not an action; it is, however, useful preparation for any meaningful action.
There are only four basic responses to a traumatic event or realization: denial, delusion, despair, or determination. Only the fourth is adaptive. So whenever you feel traumatized by the latest horrific headline, here are some suggestions to call to mind in order to renew your determination to resist Trump’s tyranny, and either restore or create a just and sustainable social order, no matter how long it takes.
Part 1: Axioms for Clearing the Mind
· The Present is all there is. Most of our despair arises from dwelling in the past subjunctive (e.g. “If only Biden had quit sooner, enabling Kamala to enter the primaries…”) But Hell resides in the past subjunctive — since your wishes are permanently beyond reach, because they are in the now-irrevocable past. This can only lead to despair. The source of dread, of course, is what will happen in the future. (“What if I lose my Social Security or Medicare?”) These are, of course, real possibilities, but they haven’t happened yet! So forget about the past, and plan for possible futures, but remember that both are mental formations — neither actually exist. Focus on what you can do — and need to do — today! Make a list.
· That that is, is. Every one of us with any sense wishes this encroaching horror were not happening. But it is. If you are religious, try joining your palms devoutly and saying “Thy Will be done.” If you are not religious, try the old Walter Cronkite sign-off: “That’s the way it is.” Ground yourself in reality, not wishful thinking.
· Nothing you’ve done, suffered, or failed to do has any necessary effect on what you CHOOSE to do in the present moment. All of us, without exception, have either done things we regret, suffered through no fault of our own, or failed to do what we should have done. But rather than indulge in guilt, remorse, self-loathing or resentment for the past, remember that you are always free, in the present moment, to do something else. Like join an organization that is pushing back. (I highly recommend Indivisible for this; they are rapidly organizing at the grassroots level all over the country, and their approach is politically informed and pragmatic. Look it up right now!)
· There are only two states of mind: Mindful and distracted. Therefore, there are only two ways of doing anything: mindfully and distractedly. Mindful means inhabiting the present moment; being here now and staying focused on what needs to be done. Distracted means being somewhere else, then — our past memories and regrets, our future dreams and fears, our fantasies, our self-doubts or self-satisfactions…
· Everyone gets distracted, all the time. So if you find yourself distracted, join the club! Don’t beat yourself up; bring yourself back gently — to the present moment, and what you need to do right now. Repeat as often as necessary.
Part 2: Injunctions to Remember.
To be useful, these injunctions should be memorized, so they are available when you need them. Psychological studies have shown that injunctions are most easily memorized when organized into either triads or tetrads. So here are a few:
1. Restoring equanimity, no matter what, in a moment when seized with dread, rage, or anxiety:
Breathe, Observe, Let Go, Abide.
The first instruction that emergency workers or first responders give to traumatized survivors of a car accident or emotional breakdown is to “breathe.” The others follow quite logically. So try practicing each of these verb phrases on the exhale of a deep breath. To go a little deeper, try this:
Breathe with gratitude for being alive and benevolence toward all living beings;
Observe with compassion for all who suffer, starting with yourself and gradually expanding your circle of compassion to embrace the entire universe…Use your imagination (on the inbreath) to visualize — and empathize with — the inner or outer suffering of people and all other living beings, and (on the outbreath) to imagine sending out the balm of your heartfelt compassion, for both them and yourself.
Let Go with joy — that is, with a gentle smile of relief that you are momentarily free of your emotional torment, whatever it might be, and in a momentary state of grace, at one with all of life…
Abide in equanimity — “the peace that passeth all understanding” — as long as you can. Repeat as often as necessary. These four useful attitudes — benevolence, compassion, joy, and equanimity — are known in India as the Four Brahmaviharas, or abodes of the Divine. They are useful to cultivate, whether you need them or not.
2. Reclaiming your day, so you get useful things done and don’t waste time :
Be well, Do good work, Keep in touch.
This is Garrison Keillor’s wonderful sign-off from his 5-minute morning radio program, Writer’s Almanac. It is the best generic daily agenda I’ve ever come across. Briefly, then —
Be Well in body, mind, and spirit, by returning to your breath (and the present moment) whenever you need to, as well as the usual ways to stay healthy (diet, exercise, etc.)
Do Good Work does not simply mean “work hard.” It means means mindful attention to what we are doing in the present moment — as Thich Nhat Hanh said, “doing it in order to do it, not in order to get it done.” But “good work” also denotes what Buddhists call “right livelihood,” or working for the well-being — the health, competence, and resilience of ourselves, our families and communities, our nation, and our planet. If your current livelihood does not meet such criteria of good work, look for another that does.
Keep in Touch. This is essential for mental and emotional well-being at any time — getting outside of ourselves and taking an interest in others. But it is especially important in times of encroaching tyranny, for fascists and corporate oligarchs have a vested interest in keeping us isolated and needy, so that we will do what they want us to do: buy more toys, get lost in our feverish internet echo-chambers and distracted by moronic TV advertising, and hate those whom they want us to hate, since we don’t know any of these people personally — migrants, ethnic minorities, gender minorities, etc.
3. Renewing your life goals:
Learn, Teach, Heal, and Create.
Have you ever noticed how often the corporate media refer to us as “consumers,” and how seldom, these days, we are referred to as “citizens”? There is a reason for this. Citizens are active; consumers are passive — it is as simple as that. Active citizens make trouble; passive consumers grow the bottom line — which, to an oligarch, is all that ever matters. So it serves their interests if they can keep us focused on getting and spending. But conversely, the above four verbs — learning, teaching, healing, and creating — are really the only things worth doing with our lives! Indeed, if our livelihoods do not involve one or more of these, but are only growing the profits of those who already have far more money than we ever will, we are slaves, not doing good work. So if we refocus our life goals on learning, teaching, healing, or creating, we are subtly pushing back against oligarchy with everything we do. For learning, teaching, healing, and creating generally involve building community, whereas getting and spending keep us isolated from one another — exactly what oligarchs and tyrants want!
4. Healing ourselves, our communities, our states, our nations, and our planet simultaneously.
This is, of course, our long-term goal, whose fruition none of us will live to see. But that doesn’t matter. Determination to pursue this goal is what makes life worth living, no matter what happens in the larger world. So here is my final, all-embracing triad:
Grow Gardens, Grow Community, Grow Awareness.
And do all of the above mindfully, strategically, and relentlessly. All of these injunctions, when practiced regularly, will steadily enhance our resilience, our solidarity, and our determination.
Feel free to copy, paste, and pass this on…
Go forth!