Trump and Musk weaponize chaos to exhaust our capacity for resistance. Recognizing the patterns of harm gives us the framework to protect our humanity and reclaim our strategic power.
Thank you for continuing to explore this and invite us in! A timeless resource for me is Pema Chodron’s, When Things Fall Apart. She writes, “Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”
You might also like A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times by Jack Kornfield. I keep extra copies around so I can give it out to friends when they hit a rough patch
Yes, I too, love Pema and this series that she has. However, I do think that there is a difference between things organically falling apart, and things falling apart due to intentional destruction. Intentional destruction means that we must ACT. If there is any silver lining in this horrific authoritarian take over it is -- that what has risen up will be so ugly, so destructive, and so obviously cruel -- that humans will rise in a collective against it and never want go there again. We are living the cycles of supremacy, dominion, and violence over and over again. And, it is happening all over the world. Let this be THEE generation that ends this cycle everywhere, and may we in the US lead it.
So appreciate your perspective. For me, who has a desire to fix in order to get back to harmony, I have recognized the need to pause and notice my own triggers and reactions. This is what Pema offers me. It helps me regulate to be able to face the enormity of this moment - and hopefully Act in a way that heals. What that looks like in real time is often quite messy and stumbly 😂 and I still show up at protests with a mix of rage and hope.
Thanks Paul! This is so informative and life-affirming. I agree - ACT is great. I just added some specific ideas when I re-stacked your Befriending Yourself… post that you referenced within this article. Keep up this important work. We all need it!
This is so helpful. In my professional community, psychotherapists like me are noticing a decrease in inquiries from folks wanting to start therapy. I sense everyone is frozen in a trauma response. It seems worse, of course, for folks from already disenfranchised, stressed communities. Helping understand the various impacts and stages is so important.
Thank you for this critical work you are offering!
I’m grateful to have come across your posts, Dr. Shattuck. When we’re taught that we can find safety in community and then that community feels shattered, we internalize that need that seems like it has nowhere to go.
Thank you for breaking these harms down into understandable reasons.
I’d love to see you as a guest on John Gartner and Harry Litman’s YouTube weekly show: Shrinking Trump. So glad I found you today in the comment section of a Critical Resistance Substack post! Your analysis and advice is really needed in the public sphere right now. Look forward to following your work now - I’m very grateful!
Thank you, Mary. That's very kind. My content delivers tools, insight, and inspiration for people doing good work in hard times. Every little bit of support really matters.
Tell everyone that through the end of May, annual paid subscriptions are half off. Paywalls will begin in June for some content.
Thank you for continuing to explore this and invite us in! A timeless resource for me is Pema Chodron’s, When Things Fall Apart. She writes, “Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”
Oh I know that book. Agree it’s terrific.
You might also like A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times by Jack Kornfield. I keep extra copies around so I can give it out to friends when they hit a rough patch
Yes, I too, love Pema and this series that she has. However, I do think that there is a difference between things organically falling apart, and things falling apart due to intentional destruction. Intentional destruction means that we must ACT. If there is any silver lining in this horrific authoritarian take over it is -- that what has risen up will be so ugly, so destructive, and so obviously cruel -- that humans will rise in a collective against it and never want go there again. We are living the cycles of supremacy, dominion, and violence over and over again. And, it is happening all over the world. Let this be THEE generation that ends this cycle everywhere, and may we in the US lead it.
Great insight. Totally agree 🎯
So appreciate your perspective. For me, who has a desire to fix in order to get back to harmony, I have recognized the need to pause and notice my own triggers and reactions. This is what Pema offers me. It helps me regulate to be able to face the enormity of this moment - and hopefully Act in a way that heals. What that looks like in real time is often quite messy and stumbly 😂 and I still show up at protests with a mix of rage and hope.
Thanks Paul! This is so informative and life-affirming. I agree - ACT is great. I just added some specific ideas when I re-stacked your Befriending Yourself… post that you referenced within this article. Keep up this important work. We all need it!
This is so helpful. In my professional community, psychotherapists like me are noticing a decrease in inquiries from folks wanting to start therapy. I sense everyone is frozen in a trauma response. It seems worse, of course, for folks from already disenfranchised, stressed communities. Helping understand the various impacts and stages is so important.
Thank you for this critical work you are offering!
Hi Jane. Thank you for sharing your experience. These stresses are showing up in so many different ways across different communities and professions.
I’m grateful to have come across your posts, Dr. Shattuck. When we’re taught that we can find safety in community and then that community feels shattered, we internalize that need that seems like it has nowhere to go.
Thank you for breaking these harms down into understandable reasons.
I have written something similar! It is a conversation guide for us to prepare for mass protests to stop this administration should it cross the final rubicon. I also talk about Thich Nhat Hanh and mindfulness as a powerful force to help survive this time. https://open.substack.com/pub/cardboardicarus/p/talking-to-save-america?r=45uga&utm_medium=ios
I’d love to see you as a guest on John Gartner and Harry Litman’s YouTube weekly show: Shrinking Trump. So glad I found you today in the comment section of a Critical Resistance Substack post! Your analysis and advice is really needed in the public sphere right now. Look forward to following your work now - I’m very grateful!
Thank you, Mary. That's very kind. My content delivers tools, insight, and inspiration for people doing good work in hard times. Every little bit of support really matters.
Tell everyone that through the end of May, annual paid subscriptions are half off. Paywalls will begin in June for some content.
https://paultshattuck.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=6aba5ba3
In solidarity,
Paul 🙏🏼☮️🌎
Stay human. Stay strategic. Shape tomorrow.
Thank you for concisely putting into words how I have been feeling.
Thank you for your information and insights.
Thank you
You are welcome. Thank you for reading 🙏🏻☮️