In today’s landscape of political turbulence and rapid-fire information, it’s hard not to feel exhausted. The challenges keep coming: misinformation campaigns, blatant racism, eroding women’s rights, and seemingly unchecked power in the hands of individuals who use it without regard for public welfare.

Figures like Elon Musk or entities like Project 2025 fuel the fire, while critical decisions hang in the balance with a Supreme Court facing accusations of bias and a Justice Department struggling to keep pace. Living amid this barrage can leave anyone feeling frayed at the edges.

Fear and intimidation are GOP tactics.

Three pressing examples illustrate today’s political landscape’s heightened intensity and stakes.

Project 2025 and Policy Impacts: The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 proposes policies that would dramatically reshape federal agencies, particularly those addressing climate change, environmental protections, and civil rights. This framework’s sweeping changes have sparked concern that its implementation would roll back democratic safeguards, leaving many Americans feeling that fundamental rights are vulnerable to policy shifts prioritizing power over public welfare.

Supreme Court Decisions on Women’s Health: Recent rulings, such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, have left women across the country questioning the future of reproductive rights and healthcare access. This decision not only restricted reproductive freedoms but also set a precedent for potentially revisiting other critical rights, causing many to worry about the broader implications for gender equality and personal autonomy.

Rising Misinformation on Social Media: Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook face continual challenges with misinformation, which contributes to political polarization and confusion around issues, including election integrity and public health. With fewer content controls, misinformation spreads rapidly, leaving users overwhelmed and distrustful of what they read online. This compounded the stress on communities trying to stay informed and engaged in democracy.

For those committed to promoting democracy, equality, and justice, these times are especially challenging. The constant confrontation of issues threatening fundamental rights wears on even the most dedicated. But how do we continue the fight, stay hopeful, and keep our energy up?

The answer lies in understanding and building resilience.

Resilience is essential for Democrats right now.

To fully understand resilience, it is helpful to look at it from different perspectives. Resilience isn’t one-size-fits-all; it takes on distinct meanings depending on the context. Whether we’re talking about objects, institutions like governments, or individuals, resilience involves adapting, resisting pressure, and recovering.

Each aspect has nuances, yet they share a common goal: to endure challenges without breaking down. Here’s a look at how resilience varies in these three areas, along with some real-world examples of how it plays out in today’s environment:

• Resilience in objects: In the physical world, resilience describes an object’s ability to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed. Think of a rubber band: when you pull it, it stretches, but when you let go, it snaps back. It’s not unbreakable but designed to withstand a reasonable amount of force without losing its structure. This kind of resilience reminds us that adaptability and durability aren’t about being invulnerable but about being able to flex and recover under pressure.
• Resilience in government: For governments, resilience is about stability, continuity, and the ability to respond effectively in times of crisis. Resilient governments can weather shocks, like economic downturns or natural disasters, without collapsing. The most effective governments have structures that allow them to absorb change, maintain order, and continue serving the public. With polarized politics and public distrust today, building resilient institutions is critical.
• Resilience in humans: Personal resilience, on the other hand, is the capacity to manage and adapt to stress, adversity, and trauma without losing hope or identity. Unlike objects or institutions, humans have the advantage of emotion and memory, allowing us to reflect, adapt, and change. Resilience helps us stay connected, maintain faith in our values, and strive for a better future, even when times are disheartening.

For those passionate about protecting democracy, women’s rights, or racial equality, living through times of constant turmoil can be draining. People may feel more frustrated, less hopeful, or even overwhelmed when resilience falters. The rapid spread of misinformation, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Truth Social, and Facebook, intensifies this stress.

With fewer content controls, misinformation can spread rapidly, leaving users overwhelmed and distrustful of the information they consume. In such an environment, keeping one’s resilience intact is both a challenge and a necessity.

Recognizing the signs of low resilience.

To effectively build resilience, it’s essential to recognize the signs that it’s wearing thin. Resilience isn’t a fixed trait; it can fluctuate based on our experiences, environment, and pressures. We can navigate stress and adversity with a balanced perspective when resilience is strong. But when resilience dips, it impacts our emotional, physical, and social well-being, often in ways that may go unnoticed initially.

Here are some signs of low resilience. Recognizing these can help you take proactive steps to rebuild your strength and maintain balance:

• Irritability and Anger: With reduced resilience, even minor frustrations can trigger outsized anger and straining relationships with friends, family, and coworkers.
• Increased Illness: Chronic stress weakens the immune system, making us more prone to colds, infections, and other health issues.
• Isolation or Clinginess: Some people withdraw from socializing when resilience is low, while others may seek constant support and find it hard to function independently.
• Mood Swings: Emotional highs and lows, or difficulty controlling reactions, are common signals that resilience wears thin.
• Trouble Sleeping: Insomnia or disrupted sleep cycles often arise when resilience is low, with constant worries interrupting restful sleep.
• Hopelessness or Lack of Purpose: Feelings of disconnection or a loss of purpose make it hard to stay motivated and grounded.

By identifying these signs early, we can prioritize resilience-boosting practices to regain footing before these symptoms escalate.

Why maintaining resilience matters now more than ever.

First, we need you. We have one more month, and we can do this.

Second, maintaining personal resilience in challenging times means surviving the stress and staying engaged in what matters. Personal resilience allows us to continue engaging meaningfully, communicate thoughtfully, and contribute to the causes we care about without succumbing to burnout.

Third, we can’t let them win. Putin knows how to divide us. Trump and his merry band of thieves also know how to do it. Elon is working overtime to generate fear and confusion. We must care for ourselves because what we fight for is so important.

Finally, when our resilience is high, we can take in the harsh realities around us without feeling hopeless. We can stay committed to our values, navigate challenging conversations, and stay grounded in our sense of purpose. A resilient mindset helps us connect with others, avoid falling into despair, and push forward with a sense of control—even when things feel overwhelming.

Nurture your resilience. Because when we fight, we win!

Here are ways to nurture and strengthen your resilience as we move through these final campaign months.

Stay Connected.
Building a network of people who share your values is essential. Relationships help buffer against stress, offering companionship, advice, and a sense of unity. Social support is critical through friends, family, or groups with shared goals.

Find Daily Purpose.
Engaging in activities that bring fulfillment can renew your resilience each day. Volunteering, supporting your community, or setting personal goals provides a sense of achievement and momentum.

Reflect on Past Strengths.
Recall how you’ve faced past difficulties and what strategies worked best. Writing about these experiences can clarify resilience patterns and reveal strengths you may have forgotten.

Prioritize Self-Care.
Self-care is more than a catchphrase; it’s an essential practice for resilience. This includes rest, nutritious food, and time for relaxation. Physical exercise, meditation, and even small creative pursuits can all reinforce a resilient mindset.

Embrace Change.
Resilient people are often adaptable, seeing changes as challenges rather than threats. Staying open to new ways of thinking can help them navigate new challenges and avoid getting stuck in frustration.

Take Action on What You Can Control.
It’s easy to feel powerless, but focusing on what you can do—even if it’s small—builds resilience. Whether contributing to a cause, helping someone in need, or finding ways to participate in local government, small actions help reinforce a sense of purpose.

Practice Gratitude and Hopefulness.
Finding positive moments daily, even amid struggle, can renew your outlook. Keep a gratitude journal or take a moment each day to acknowledge what’s going well; focusing on even the smallest joys builds emotional resilience.

Stay engaged, visualize the Harris Walz win, and don’t get lost.

In these challenging times, resilience is more than a shield—it’s a force that allows us to stay involved, maintain hope, and look forward to a better future. Building resilience doesn’t mean ignoring pain or struggle; it means developing the inner strength to keep striving for change while caring for ourselves and each other.

Resilience fuels our journey forward to a future that’s worth the fight.