Action breeds confidence

Cynthia Nelson, Member of the League of Women Voters of Morgantown-Monongalia County (WV)

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

-- Dale Carnegie

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As the media rain down a storm of bad news, followed by shocking news, followed by depressing news – all faster than ever – it is important to remember that we cannot be everywhere, all at once, all of the time. But we are not helpless, so we cannot act as though we are helpless.

So how do we focus on anything when everything feels overwhelming? Courage of conviction. Focus on the values and beliefs that you hold dear and pour your energy into protecting those things. Find your superpower and put it to use to protect what is important to you personally or to your community.

Just a few examples:

If you believe that public schools should be a place of learning and a springboard to a better, brighter future, then attend school board meetings and support the programs in your schools that are important to you and your community. That could be making sure music and arts programs stay funded and available to students, supporting academic clubs to remain available and supportive of the students that participate in them, or advocating for athletic programs that are available for both girls and boys. It could also mean protecting your local school from becoming another casualty of shutdowns or consolidation.

If your public library is a destination to exercise your passion for reading or research, then protect your library and librarians when they come under attack for the services they offer. Start a conversation on social media, speak to your friends and neighbors about what is at stake if a library is lost, and write to your local newspaper.

What if you feel public services are being underfunded and neglected by local government? Speak out and write letters to your representatives – city council, county commission, state legislature. Call attention to inadequate funding and misplaced priorities; make your voice heard in public meetings, in constituent letters, and on social media.

If you or anyone in your family is being threatened with losing basic social safety net services like health care, SNAP benefits or if their physical safety is being threatened for being LGBTQ, then protect those you love and care about. Push back against the culture wars and underfunded government programs.

While none of us individually has the power to control all the storms swirling around us daily, every one of us has something we care deeply about. Identify your values and protect them from attacks both publicly and privately. Correct misinformation when you see it being spread, don’t spread misinformation yourself, write letters, attend meetings, join an action group that aligns with your priorities, and most of all, do not cower under the rhetoric that would demean you, your family, your community or your beliefs and values.