The shootings from the past few weeks are so painful. I can easily get overwhelmed. When I use the Centering Skill of Noticing Myself, I notice I am feeling angry, sad, and full of grief. It is easy to slide into hopelessness: “This country will never change.” “So many children have been killed and yet we cannot seem to muster the political willpower to effectively protect them.” “We have been fighting the right-wing shift in the NRA for decades. What will be different now?”
This is when the Collaborating Skill of Contributing Intentionally demonstrates its superpower. Yes, it is important to think about what we can do to improve the world. But it is especially important when we feel insignificant—like we can’t change the needle on important issues. Contributing Intentionally in fact is the ONLY way we create the world we dream of, the world we want.
When we use the Resilient Mindset of Choice, we realize that we do have the power, we CAN choose to work on challenges, together. Only when we choose and commit to Contributing Intentionally to actively work for change, will we actually have the change we need.
So what might Contributing Intentionally look like right now?
- Support educators, as they try to nurture the next generation while being faced with huge pressures. Help those at your local school, or go through a national organization like Donors Choose.
- Support mental health organizations. Again, your donations, your volunteer time, and your voice all matter. You can support us at Dovetail Learning, for we are promoting universal mental wellbeing with our We Are Resilient ™ approach. There are also many other mental health organizations worth supporting.
- Support change in our political system and efforts to truly strengthen our democracy. Walk the Walk is one such group that is strategically investing in grassroots, long-term efforts to give voice to many who have felt marginalized.
- Support changes in our gun laws. Write or call your senators or representatives. Support organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Actions for Gun Sense in America, and Brady United Against Gun Violence with your donations, your volunteer time, and lobbying efforts to your elected representatives.
What we know from resilience research is Choice creates opportunity(our second resilient mindset) and Courage (our third resilient mindset) to act makes the difference. Your Contributing Intentionally efforts may look very different from these. Only you can choose the best form for you.
When the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting killed 26 people in December 2012, I made a personal commitment to Contribute Intentionally (with my money and my time) until we as a country made significant changes to stop these types of shootings. Clearly, we have not done it yet. I know my efforts are but a drop in the bucket, but I also know that the bucket WILL eventually get filled with enough drops.
Will you join me in Contributing Intentionally?