 These are deeply unsettling times. The weight of injustice, uncertainty, and harm can feel unbearable. For some, this fear and exhaustion are new—a sudden awakening to realities that others have long endured. For others, it is a constant, woven into generations of lived experience—a heaviness carried in bodies, in communities, in history. And yet, history reminds us of both the worst and the best of humanity. It is filled with individuals who have endured, with cultures and communities who continue to resist and rebuild in the face of unimaginable hardship. Resilience takes many forms, but one thing is clear: staying well—mentally, emotionally, and physically—is not optional. It is necessary. Not just for today, but for the long haul. As we move through these times, we are not doing so alone. The youth in our lives—our children, students, and the next generation—are watching. They are not just hearing our words; they are absorbing how we respond, how we cope, and how we care for ourselves in the midst of hardship. This moment offers us both an opportunity and a responsibility—to show them what it means to stay well in the face of adversity. Resilience Requires Regulation I’ve heard from educators, parents, and caregivers who feel worn out, unsure of how to make a difference, and overwhelmed by what comes next. That’s why I’m writing this—to remind you that in the work of caregiving and advocacy, your regulation is essential. Children don’t just listen to what we say—they feel us, literally. Their nervous systems are constantly tuning in through a process called neuroception—the body’s automatic, subconscious way of detecting safety or threat. They absorb our energy, stress, and steadiness—or lack thereof. Co-regulation is happening beneath the level of conscious awareness, whether we intend it to or not. Their nervous systems take cues from us about how safe the world is right now. If the adults around them are in a chronic state of fight or flight, their bodies register that message: the world is not safe; I must stay on high alert. Even with the best of intentions, an adult stuck in survival mode doesn’t communicate that even in chaos, we can still find refuge, still work to be well. Instead, their nervous system is primed to fight or flee—and the children around them feel it. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be fighting for justice or for the things that matter. But when we move through the world without conscious awareness, spending more time dysregulated than not, there is an impact—on our own health and on those around us. Our nervous systems were not designed to exist in a constant state of stress activation. The stress response is meant for short bursts, mobilizing us when needed, then resolving and returning to a regulated state. Our ventral vagal system—the branch of the vagus nerve that allows us to connect, rest, digest, and recover—must be intentionally cultivated. It doesn’t just happen; it requires practice. Daily practice. Routine regulation. How We Show Up Matters One of the most meaningful ways to support youth right now is to be a steady, regulated-enough presence—a source of stability in uncertain times. This doesn’t mean ignoring the weight of the world or staying calm. It means ensuring that, amidst it all, we are returning to practices that restore us, keep us grounded, and sustain our capacity to show up—again and again.
This isn't about disengaging, and resilience doesn’t mean pushing through at all costs. It means knowing when to pause, knowing when we need support, and making our own well-being a priority so we can show up with clarity and intention instead of reacting from a place of overwhelm or depletion. It means recognizing when social media is keeping us in a cycle of anxiety rather than action. It means choosing moments of rest, connection, and care—not as a luxury, but as an act of resistance against the forces that would have us burn out. Staying well in times like these is not about avoidance. It’s about making sure we can keep showing up—again and again. For the people in our lives. For those most impacted. For the long fight. The Practices Sustaining Me in These Times These are resources and practices I’ve been integrating into my routine—ways to regulate, recharge, and sustain:
What about you? How are you sustaining yourself right now? “One of the best things each of us can do—not only for ourselves but also for our children and grandchildren—is to metabolize our pain and heal our trauma. When we heal and make more room for growth in our nervous systems, we have a better chance of spreading our emotional health to our descendants, via healthy DNA expression. In contrast, when we don’t address our trauma, we may pass it on to future generations, along with some of our fear, constriction, and dirty pain.” ― Resmaa Menakem My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Mending of Our Bodies and Hearts Author, Jen Rapanos, LMSW, RCYT Comments are closed.
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