Obstacle 2: What’s the Point?
Meet Chelsea
Chelsea is a trans woman and an advocate for transgender rights. Her days are filled with enthusiasm and action.
But at night, sitting alone in her dimly lit apartment, the weight of the world’s prejudices seems unbearable. Tears well in her eyes as she remembers the countless stories of discrimination, violence, and loss within the transgender community.
Haunted by her own trauma and the suffering of millions of other transgender individuals, it was in these moments of despair that Chelsea wondered if she was doing enough, if her activism was meaningful. Were her tireless efforts making a difference? Or just a meaningless drop in an unstoppable tsunami of injustice?
She could never give up on her community, no matter how futile her efforts. But in those dark moments, it was all too easy to give up hope that she and her brethren would ever be treated as equals.
Solution
Don’t Succumb to Despair
Let’s be real. It is so frustrating to invest your blood, sweat, and tears into causes you care about, with the result of little to no progress.
But this outcome isn’t inevitable. David can beat Goliath. History is full of dozens of examples proving it.
When to Seek Help
If despair is a pervasive state for you, lasting two weeks or more, you should seek professional help. This may be a sign of depression or another mental health problem.
Strategies for Fighting Despair
Prepare
Come up with a plan ahead of time for which strategies you will try.
Normalize
Moments of doubt and despair are completely normal! Remember that.
Empathize
You are doing the right thing, even though it’s hard. Future generations will thank you.
Motivate
Give yourself a pep talk. Immerse yourself in success stories.
Express
Have a cry. Talk to a friend or loved one. Write an epic rant in your journal.
De-personalize
The ignorance and injustice of society today are to blame. This is not your fault.
Distract
Watch a favorite show. Do a favorite activity. Practice self-care.
Contextualize
You are one person fighting an unjust system. Change requires many people making many contributions.
Reappraise
Can you find value or meaning in this struggle? Are there silver linings?
Reposition
What would your mentors, heroes, past self, or future self say?
Slow Your Thoughts
Ask your brain to temporarily set those fears aside. Turn down the volume.
Reassess
Maybe your despair points to another obstacle in this guide that needs attention.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.