So many horrible things are happening at whiplash speed. It can leave us with a sense of helplessness and rage.

That’s exactly how they want you to feel.

So what can we do?

Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People teaches how to be productive in the workplace, but it also applies to life.

Simply put, to be effective, we must first take inventory of an issue and place it into one of three categories: things I can control, things I can influence,  or areas of concern. (I made the third circle “out of my control” because it defines that space better for me). From there, we adjust the time, effort, and energy based on where that issue falls within our circles.

For example, I have no control over oligarchs going into the Social Security system and doing God knows what. But I can get on their website and download my information before it gets altered, and I can alert all my friends to do the same.

See the mindset shift? Instead of feeling helpless that douche (which is how I say d o g e) is manipulating or even stealing from a system set up to care for our elderly, I now have an action, which is to print out my information and then encourage others to do the same. Covey calls it a circle of influence, but it feels more like a circle of empowerment. Because that’s precisely what it does, it empowers you to do something about issues you have control or influence over.

So, I’ve spent this week looking at things we can do within my circle of control, and here are my top ten:

#10 Think before you spend. Before shopping, check out GoodsUniteUs. I have the app, which is super convenient as it’s always on my phone.

#9 Stay informed. Fascists control media outlets. We know this. And they put out propaganda like it’s their job (no one needs to look any further than the White House Instagram page to get the point). Finding a reputable source has always been difficult, but I’m sticking with the BBC, PBS Newshour (for as long as they are on the air), the CBC,  and Heather Cox Richardson, one of the greatest historians of our time.

#8 Avoid people who love knee-jerk reactions. When we believe something and someone contradicts that belief, our natural response is to unquestioningly defend. This tendency is a big reason so many people double down on the indefensible (they’re eating dogs in Ohio, for example). Breathe. And then reflect when presented with new facts.

#7. Take stock of your financial institutions. Finra rules (regulations for the investment/banking industry) prohibit large donations to party affiliations, but that doesn’t mean those institutions create a culture that aligns with your moral compass. Consider going with a local bank or moving to a Credit Union.

#6. Take time to call or write your representatives. It seems like an effort in futility, but it does make a difference. 5 calls is a great way to see the issues, and it gives you a script as a starting point to help along the way. It’s a great app and it only takes a few minutes to make your voice heard.

#5. It’s okay to take a break. We are in this for the long haul. Get off Social Media. Go out with friends. Take stock of those friendships. As I said last week, cognitive dissonance is real. If your friends no longer align with your moral compass, maybe it’s time to step back and give that friendship a break too.

#4. Stop using credit cards. This one’s a tough one for me. For years, I’ve put everything on a card and then paid it off at the end of the month. But every transaction gives a processing company (most likely owned by an oligarch) 3% of that purchase. It also means less hard currency is in circulation in our communities. I’ll continue using cards when I’m on the road, but I’ll be back to dollars and cents for day-to-day transactions.

#3 Help local business. So many companies have been affected by the oligarch’s decisions regarding our global economy. Much like over-tipping during the pandemic, find industries close to home that have been hit (like Ky’s bourbon industry, for example) and consider giving them your business.

#2 Join and donate to RepresentUs.This is a non-partisan grass-roots movement whose sole purpose is to end corruption within our democracy and get it working again.

#1 Make sure your party affiliation aligns with your moral compass. I know so many people who are unhappy with the Republican Party, and yet they haven’t left. But the Republican Party isn’t what is used to be. Instead of intellectuals discussing fiscal conservativism, smaller government, and lower taxes for all, it is now comprised of extremists hellbent on destroying our parks, and normalizing racism, misogyny, and fear. If you can’t bring yourself to join the Democrats, then become a libertarian or independent. It’s important, though, because shrinking their numbers shrinks their power.