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An Ancient Japanese Practice That Can Help You Resist Tyranny
Sharpen your senses and protect your mental health
It’s impossible to get on any social media app and not be flooded with notifications about horrible events. Violent forces are increasingly targeting marginalized groups and their allies. And while it is true that social media algorithms tend to reward content that sparks rage and despair — it’s also true that the world is a more dangerous place right now than it has been for a generation.
Many people feel they have two choices: submerge themselves in the torrent of breaking news or bury their heads in the sand and ignore what is happening.
Neither of these options is good for you. Neither of these things will help keep you and those you care about safe. Fascists would love for you to have either one of these reactions to the events unfolding around the world.
As Ryan Holiday recently noted, we have a moral obligation to be informed, but watching cable news and doomscrolling through breaking news alerts on our phones is not keeping us informed. It is making us sick and limiting our effectiveness as leaders in our communities.
In dangerous times like these, we need to maintain vigilance while also protecting our energy and mental health so that we can take…
