Helping young men to become warriors, leaders, and teachers. Showing them how to overcome fear, bullies, and life's challenges so they can live the life they were meant to live, for more, check out https://CharlesDoublet.com/
Action Without Outrage: A Guide for the Overwhelmed
What Good People Can Do in a Broken Time: A Guide for the OverwhelmedI'll be honest—these are crazy times. Things are moving faster and farther than most people can handle, and it's easy to go down rabbit holes, getting lost or wrapping yourself in a cocoon of your favorite silo, being wrapped in the warm blanket of confirmation bias. Either path leads nowhere. So here are some options that allow you to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. First—take a breath. Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you're weak or apathetic. It means you're awake, connected and concerned. You're wrestling with the right problem: "How do I act with integrity instead of reacting with noise?" That already separates you from the complacent. There's a line often attributed to Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Whether he said it exactly or not, the principle stands. But here's the part most people miss: Action does not mean spectacle. Action means responsibility. You don't need rallies. You don't need slogans. You don't need to feed and donate to PACs you not sure if you can trust. You need agency. Below is a grounded, non-performative way to act as a good person without becoming consumed or corrupted—especially in this time of political, cultural, and ideological divide where we seem to be rushing headfirst into authoritarianism, fascism, and disrupting the "rule of law." People are literally dying, and we need everybody to take an accounting of what they can do to not add fuel to the fire, to focus not just on the problems but instead work TOGETHER to find mutually-acceptable solutions, to stop throwing rocks (or firing bullets) at one another and instead seek common ground instead of sound bites. 1. Separate Moral Action from Political TheaterRallies, outrage cycles, and algorithm-fed fury feel like action—but often produce nothing. Ask one ruthless question before anything you do: "Does this increase my real-world leverage or just my emotional output?" If it's the second, it's theater. The Theater TrapPolitical theater looks like:
What it produces:
Real action looks like:
What it produces:
Good people don't win wars by yelling. They win by positioning. The Algorithm Is Not Your FriendUnderstand this:
The discipline:
If it doesn't create real leverage, it's noise. 2. Anchor Yourself Locally (This Is Where Power Still Works)National politics is abstract. Local life is real. Why Local MattersAt the national level:
At the local level:
Evil scales upward. Goodness spreads sideways. High-Leverage Local ActionsShow up to city council or school board meetings once a quarter
Support local journalism (even $5/month)
Volunteer skills—not just vibes
Help one nonprofit operate better, not just survive
Examples of real impact:
This is where good people win: in the real world, with real relationships, producing real results. 3. Use the "Circle of Control" Rule (Stoic, Not Passive)You don't control:
You do control:
Refusing to participate in bad systems is not apathy. It's discipline. That's warrior restraint. Where to Focus Your EnergyCircle of Concern (depleting):
Circle of Control (empowering):
The shift:
The Stoic ReframeMarcus Aurelius wrote: "You have power over your mind—not outside events.
Realize this, and you will find strength."
This doesn't mean:
This means:
The paradox: The less you try to control everything, the more effective you become at controlling something. 4. Donate Like an Investor, Not a BelieverYour instinct is right: blind donating is often wasted or weaponized. The Problem with Political DonationsMost political donations:
The 2020 election cycle:
Your $100 donation to a presidential campaign:
Your $100 donation to a local legal defense fund:
How to Donate StrategicallyIf you donate at all: 1. Prefer mission-driven nonprofits, not political PACs
2. Look for audited financials
3. Ask: "What measurable outcome does $1,000 create?"
4. Favor organizations with real-world impact:
5. Local > National
That's not cynicism. That's stewardship. Questions to Ask Before Donating
If you can't get clear answers, don't donate. 5. Become a Stabilizing Force for People Around YouThis is underrated—and powerful. The Power of StabilityIn chaotic times, most people:
Be the person who:
Stability is resistance. Every community needs fewer screamers and more anchors. What This Looks LikeIn conversations:
With family:
With friends:
In your community:
The Multiplier EffectOne calm, clear, principled person in a room changes the entire dynamic. You don't need to be loud. You don't need to dominate. You just need to be steady. Over time:
This is leadership without title. 6. Practice "Quiet Courage" (Not Loud Virtue)Courage today isn't shouting. It's standing when it costs something socially. What Loud Virtue Looks LikePerformative activism:
This is easy. This is safe. This changes nothing. What Quiet Courage Looks LikeReal courage:
This is hard. This costs you. This matters. Examples of Quiet CourageCorrecting misinformation:
Setting boundaries:
Defending the unpopular:
Admitting uncertainty:
This is where good people actually bleed a little. And this is where character is built. 7. Choose One Long Game—and CommitApathy isn't inaction. Apathy is diffusion. The Diffusion ProblemWhen you try to care about everything:
When you focus deeply on one thing:
Pick One LaneChoose one area where you'll commit long-term: Civic engagement
Education
Community building
Mentorship
Journalism support
Legal advocacy
Economic independence
Then go deep instead of wide. The 5-Year CommitmentPick one lane and commit for 5 years:
After 5 years in one lane, you'll have created more real change than 20 years of diffuse outrage. Evil thrives on exhaustion. Good people win through endurance. The Reframe You Need MostYou Are Not Required To:
You Are Required To:
That is not apathy. That is adult responsibility. Finding Common Ground Instead of Sound BitesThe Problem We're FacingWe're in an era of:
The result:
The Path ForwardStop throwing rocks (or firing bullets) at one another. Start seeking common ground. How: 1. Remember the humanity of the "other side"
2. Ask questions instead of making statements
3. Focus on shared values, not policies
4. Work together on concrete problems
5. Build relationships before debates
When you know someone as a full human being, it's harder to dehumanize them. When you're working together on something concrete, ideology matters less. When you're focused on solutions, sound bites don't work. Conclusion: Be Part of the SolutionThese are crazy times. Things are moving faster than most people can handle. It's easy to:
But you don't have to. You can:
This won't save the country, or the world overnight. But it will:
And if enough good people do this—consistently, over time, with discipline and endurance—we might just make it through. You don't need to be a hero. You just need to be good, present, and committed. That's enough. That's more than enough. Now get to work. |
Charles Doublet
Helping young men to become warriors, leaders, and teachers. Showing them how to overcome fear, bullies, and life's challenges so they can live the life they were meant to live, for more, check out https://CharlesDoublet.com/
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