Animal Advocacy 4 Ways to Overcome Despair

[Second Summer]

I don’t know many activists or changemakers who don’t sometimes feel sad. The more we expose ourselves to exploitation and cruelty toward people and animals; the more we learn about climate change and the rapid extinction of species; the more we see corruption in politics and greed in business, the greater the likelihood that despair will creep in.

Some turn their despair outward into rage, which can too often damage relationships, turn off potential allies, promote polarization, and thereby prevent solutions. Some find that despair leads to depression, undermining action, which can turn into a positive feedback loop: more despair leading to more depression leading to less action leading to more despair.

Read full article: 4 Ways to Overcome Despair (Zoe Weil (president of the Institute for Humane Education), at care2.com, March 7, 2013)

I thought this could be applicable to many in our community.

 

[ledboots]

Nice article, thanks for posting.

 

[Calliegirl]

How could you not feel sad, especially with Facebook and the endless pictures of abused animals.

#1 is a good idea. It's the reason I'm working hard (and spent what little money I had) to get my website up and running. It's one way I can hopefully do some good.
#2 just makes me feel sadder. When I do see something nice, a sunset or some animals playing, I just feel worse. I think about all the animals in labs and factory farms who will never see the outside, let alone a sunset, and just feel misery, pain and fear every second of their lives.

 

[mlp]

I try to concentrate on the one(s) for whom I am able to make a difference. It's hard, though, to not think of the billions who don't have a chance.