Activists live in the belly of the Beast we are struggling to transform, obliged to manage our daily lives inside an oppressive, unjust global socio-economic system with which we are fundamentally at odds. We can’t avoid participating in institutions, customs and cultures we know to be harmful and against our interests.
This underlying conflict, inherent to being an activist, can lead to considerable complexity in the emotional landscape of our daily lives.
In addition, activist work itself often puts us on an emotional roller coaster…or bumper cars! We feel the thrill of being connected in community, the excitement of working together for a common cause with others, but also concern and sometimes fear for our comrades’ safety, and our own.
We feel frustration, confusion and grief. Also burnout, isolation, terror, hopelessness. And more–especially in challenging, turbulent times.