6 Things to Do

In today’s fast-paced world, it feels almost impossible to tune into any news—whether it’s from broadcast television or social media—without feeling overwhelmed. As of early February 2025, the sheer volume and intensity of current events have many people feeling either elated or deeply troubled. Regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum, navigating this sea of change and trauma requires intentional steps to safeguard our well-being, support our communities, and uphold the values we cherish. Here are six specific actions that can help us stay grounded and hopeful. *

“6 Things to Do” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer (via AI – see below) **

1. Embrace Daily Quiet Time or Meditation
Whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs, carving out a daily quiet time is essential. This isn’t just about being still—it’s about centering ourselves on thoughts of goodness, gratitude, and reflection. Even amidst life’s challenges, there are always things to be thankful for. For me, as a follower of Jesus Christ, this time includes reading the Bible and inviting God’s Holy Spirit to guide me in service to others. However, this practice is beneficial for everyone, regardless of faith. Self-care must come first; without it, we can’t effectively care for others.

2. Build Community Locally and Online
Community is a lifeline, both in person and virtually. At school, I’ve found comfort in conversations with colleagues over lunch, and we now gather monthly to share meals and fellowship. Our church, Caldwell Presbyterian in uptown Charlotte, has been another cornerstone of my community. Online groups, like the Media Education Lab and the “First Hundred Days” community, have also provided invaluable support. These connections remind us that we’re not alone, helping us process life’s complexities with people who care about us.

3. Seek and Become a Trustworthy Media Filter
The information age bombards us with a firehose of data. To navigate this, we need trustworthy media filters—both people we can rely on and becoming those reliable sources for others. Influencers have always shaped public opinion, but today, anyone can step into that role. For instance, I value the insights of historian Heather Cox Richardson for her thoughtful takes on current events. Sharing such trusted sources with our networks can be transformative, guiding others through the noise.

4. Establish Personal Media Firewalls
Just as physical firewalls protect us from literal fires, media firewalls shield us from the emotional and mental toll of constant information. Setting boundaries on our news consumption—limiting time spent doomscrolling or engaging with polarizing content—is crucial. Social media and news can be addictive, so it’s important to create limits that protect our mental health and well-being.

5. Volunteer in Your Local Community
Volunteering is a powerful antidote to feeling overwhelmed. Through my church, I’ve had the privilege of serving at the Levine Men’s Shelter in uptown Charlotte. We go the first Friday of every month, providing meals and companionship to men in need. This experience has been uplifting and grounding, offering perspective on my own life and the opportunity to build deeper relationships within my community. There are countless opportunities in every community to serve—find one that resonates with you.

6. Maintain Hope and Faith
Perhaps the most important action we can take is to maintain hope. Faith, whether in a higher power, a greater purpose, or simply the goodness of humanity, sustains us through difficult times. As a follower of Jesus, I find comfort in the belief that I am not alone and that forces of good are at work in the world. J.R.R. Tolkien captured this beautifully in The Lord of the Rings, reminding us that even in the darkest times, there is light and hope. We must hold onto that belief and work together to support the values we cherish.

In conclusion, these six actions—quiet time, building community, filtering media, setting boundaries, volunteering, and maintaining hope—are steps I am actively taking to navigate these turbulent times. I hope they offer you some guidance and support as well. I invite you to explore two projects I’ve initiated: Heal Our Culture, aimed at addressing societal divisions, and Dangerous Ideas with Wes Fryer, a Patreon project supporting representative democracy, human rights, religious tolerance, and media literacy.

Together, we can make a difference. Stay well, and let’s continue this journey side by side.

* AI Attribution: I initially recorded these ideas as a 15 minute video using Streamyard.

** AI image generated by Wes Fryer using Ideogram:
ideogram.ai/g/5TmuDVKtSd26ElmUKnS3Mg/0

This was my workflow to create this blog post based on my video transcript:

I used Descript.com to create an accurate transcript of my video.
I downloaded my 4 most recent blog posts and saved them as PDF files.
I provided the following prompt to ChatGPT: “I would like you to take a video transcript that I recorded today and edit it into a blog post, keeping the content and tone… but making it into a well formed, paragraph based blog post. To do this, please prompt me to upload 4 recent blog posts I have written that you can use to pattern and match my writing style. Secondly, ask me to upload the video transcript.”
I reviewed and edited the resulting script, which I’ve shared here.

These are additional referenced links from the video: