Surviving 2025 and Beyond

Top 10 Strategies for Sanity and Safety

Jan 05, 2025

A brand new year! Possibilities, hope, discoveries, surprises! We are in this life TOGETHER, Well Canto Creatives. We need to stay connected, to keep making compassionate choices and to show ourselves, our loved ones, and complete strangers all the love we naturally have in our hearts. To live a productive, creative, safe life filled with kindness and meaning is our birthright, oh, yes it is!

Well Canto’s focus is developing and maintaining a healthy mindset. This isn’t ever an easy task, but lately (or, for the last decade) it feels that staying sane - let alone joyful - is a particular challenge. This post, with its many links, is intended to validate and hearten while we brace for the upcoming onslaught of a political era that promises to work against the vast majority of Americans.

We are long past the point of both sides-ism, differing opinions, democrat vs republican, or big government vs small government. We are now in an era of right or wrong, truth or lies, the rule of law or chaos. Do we work to preserve our Consitutional Federal Republic/Representative Democracy, or give in to autocracy? What the heck do we do now?

I hesitated to publish this post. What does politics have to do with a healthy mindset, i.e., flexible, reality-based thinking which helps us feel optimistic, calm, and capable? Stay in your lane! There is enough (way too much) chatter out there on this subject! We all already know the calamity that awaits us, my inner voice whines. But as the inauguration (of a fascist demagogue in violation of the 14th Amendment) is just days away there is an urgency I cannot ignore. We must not allow ourselves to be bullied and gaslighted into submission, or to obey in advance. Plus, I realize that self-editing in order not to rock the boat, attract negative attention, risk being shamed and bullied is participating in my own oppression.

May be an image of 1 person and text that says 'May 2025 be the year that women decide we are not submitting to the patriarchy! "The reason women are critiqued for being too loud or too meek, big or too small. too smart to be attractive or too attractive to be smart, is to belittle women out of standing up publicly. The goal is to 'critique into submission. & That applies to anyone challenging power. AOC That ThatLiberal Liberal Atheist AtheistNurse Nurse'

We are not crazy, friends! We ARE the sane, stable ones. But it is hard to remember aaaaaaaallllll the abuses, corruption, fraud, violence, inhumanity, and yes, treason of the last decade. Here are some reminders, if you can stand it. There are hundreds more on ye olde interwebz:

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5159868/2024-election-trump-harris-capitol-riot

https://www.citizensforethics.org/news/analysis/president-trumps-worst-offenses/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/trump-pandemic-amnesia/

https://www.epi.org/publication/50-reasons/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-claims-at-madison-square-garden-rally

There is much to do, so let’s look at Top 10 Strategies to Stay Safe and Sane in 2025 and Beyond.

The Easy Stuff:

Remind Ourselves That No US Citizen Is More or Less American Than Any Other.

This is self-explanatory, though there is plenty of propaganda to suggest otherwise. The fact that white supremacists and misogynists have become emboldened doesn’t lend them any legitimacy. The idea that some of us deserve more while others should be punished is patently un-American.

Live Your Values.

We definitely know right from wrong, and most of us like to think of ourselves as good and decent people. Values like Integrity, Family, Responsibility, Compassion, Respect, Courage, Honesty, and Accountability have not ceased to be the cornerstone of character just because the current President-elect demonstrates none of these.

Here is an article I wrote previously on how to clarify your values:

https://barbaraeshirvis.substack.com/p/clarify-values-define-strengths

Fun fact: Did you know that all major religions promote the concept of Loving Kindness? Yes, all. It is the fundamentalist versions of religion that corrupt this basic tenet.

Adhere To Facts. Seek The Truth. Know (Or Learn) History.

Being routinely subjected to disinformation causes radicalization, mistrust, intolerance, and even domestic terrorism. We must all continue to use critical thinking over raw emotions and confirmation bias. Checking facts is not hard. Also, there are several excellent American historians who write and speak prolifically. A few to look out for: Doris Kearns Goodwin, Heather Cox Richardson, Jon Meacham, Joseph J Ellis, etc.

Do Not Normalize The Abnormal: Lawlessness, Corruption, Violence, Disinformation And Cruelty.

Rage is not strength, might is not right. The United States is a country governed by the rule of law, a principle that holds all people, institutions, and entities accountable to laws that are: Publicly known, Enforced equally, Independently adjudicated, and Consistent with international human rights principles.

It’s enlightening to become aware that domestic violence techniques are routinely deployed on a large scale by the far right movement: Name Calling, Minimizing, Love bombing; Shaming, Gaslighting; Othering; Isolation; Physical Intimidation; Triangulation; Hoovering, among others. Dangerous and creepy AF.

The carpet-bombing style of discrimination is confusing and causes decent people everywhere to wonder where to put their attention. This is by design, of course, but basic fairness and civil rights are for everyone. However, the off-the-charts persecution of Trans Folk is completely disproportionate to the manufactured ‘threat’, in my opinion. Also, anti-immigration is as old as America herself (I recommend the movie Cabrini for just one stomach-churning reminder of our abysmal history on the subject). Finally, Woke simply means stay aware of injustice. We mustn't let ourselves be duped by the swindlers.

Be Good To Ourselves, And Our Family, And Our Friends.

The term ‘self-care’ can sound hollow and vague from overuse, but as an intentional action it cannot be encouraged enough. We must protect our energy, our sense of peace, our caring, and our health. I constantly remind myself to use established techniques to mitigate the low-grade anxiety that comes with being too tuned-in to news and socials. Guess what always makes me feel more grounded? Music! Also, moving my body, cooking and eating whole foods, and laughing my head off with friends and family.

The Harder Stuff:

Recognize When Someone Lacks The Ability To Self-Regulate.

Those who use anger as a weapon or an excuse to avoid thoughtful exchange of ideas haven’t fully developed as human beings. Self-regulation is the ability to control our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and impulses in a way that's socially acceptable and flexible. There is no circumstance where any of us must accept being shouted at, bullied, or manipulated. In other words, do not willingly accept abuse. Don’t argue either, just walk away.

Discern Rather Than Judge (You’ll Be Happier).

Discern rather than judge means to carefully analyze and understand a situation or person's actions with the goal of gaining insight and making informed decisions, instead of hastily condemning or criticizing them based on limited information or personal bias; essentially, it encourages a more thoughtful and compassionate approach to evaluating others. Be curious and open, rather than jumping to conclusions.

How to improve your Critical Thinking

Stay Tuned-In And Do What You Can.

Keep in mind there is a huge gulf between doing nothing, and burning yourself out with activism. There are great organizations out there run by great people who believe in keeping the American Experiment alive and out of the clutches of authoritarianism. Essentially, you can choose any level of involvement you wish. Use Google! Another simple way to make yourself heard is by contacting your representatives. Find their info on congress.gov. I have President Joseph R Biden in my personal contacts and I text ‘him’ each day asking to direct the archivist to publish the ERA as the 28th Amendment. You can do this, too!

The language of the proposed 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Understand The Cult Dynamic.

Yes, as sad and tragic as it is to say, MAGA is a cult and Trump is their leader. Families have been ripped apart, decades-long friendships have ended, and decent people have become perpetually enraged, filled with hatred, lawless, and sometimes even violent. Over what? Lies, more lies, and damn lies. To become literate about Cults, here is a good article. It is true that cult victims deserve compassion and help, but not by putting ourselves at risk. Stay away from people who voted for and believe in harming their fellow American citizens. Healing relationships can begin when the fever grip releases, and it will in time. Until then, know what you are up against and protect yourself.

Be of service.

Or at the very least, don’t cause suffering. Be a good guy. Sure, it’s harder than throwing tantrums and spewing nonsensical conspiracy theories, but laziness is not one of our values, is it?

Let’s get busy! Do not despair. Yes, enduring nutters and haters with a bent for harm is in no way easy, pleasant, or fair. We must rise above the madness while we hang on to reality and work together in peace, love, and for the highest good of all.

Well Canto

Surviving 2025 and Beyond

Top 10 Strategies for Sanity and Safety

The Easy Stuff:

The Harder Stuff:

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