We are living in times that are dark—wars, pandemic, racial strife, attacks on personal freedoms, cultural frays, substance abuse, violence. The list goes on and on. These can coalesce into clouds of pessimism that hang over all of us. These times are confusing and complex and complicated for all of us—the tension and anxiety are palatable.

In our ECE professional work, we are battered by factors beyond our control. Staff shortages, unique family needs, changing work environments, confronting issues of equity and justice, making sense of shifting economics. Behind our screens, we watch debates about critical race theory, banning of books, and the hijacking of “developmentally appropriate.” Plus, that fight in Disney World! What is a rational person to do? How do we find our own truth, strengthen our values, seek solutions, and rekindle hope?

ADVERTISEMENT

Perhaps the first reality check is to know that these complicated and complex issues are not new to humanity and, for better or worse, there is no easy answer for any of them. Begin by doing your homework—what are reliable sources of information, what resources can illuminate and guide my knowledge, and who can help me further understand these issues objectively? Each of us are on that wide spectrum of individual learning; do not compare and contrast!

As you walk the tightrope of our times, here are a few steps to keep your balance and sanity:

• Let go of the things you cannot control, and exercise control over what you can, such as reducing media time.
• Be willing to learn, see multiple sides to any issue, stay curious and well informed.
• Stay true to your values, morals, and ethics; refresh and polish your sense of what is true for you and those you care for.
• Who, me? Be confident of your abilities, skills, honesty, and talents, so you can be an agent of positive change.
• Stay away from over-simplification of matters that are truly complex.
• Bust your safe and comfortable bubble. Sometimes you have to cross six lanes of traffic to get to the other side.
• Consider that self-righteousness (such as being “accepting, inviting, and polite”) can also push someone else’s hot buttons. Unfortunately, that can be a recipe for interpersonal tension. 
• Know your personality and use it to your best advantage; quiet folks will take time to reflect on these issues, while extroverts may need to take a few steps back and cool down! 
• Since our work centers on positive relationships, stimulate conversation, engage in active listening, stay polite, and be respectful. 
• Agree to disagree when it is a civil option. Also, learn to gracefully end “difficult conversations” when life and limb are at stake.
• Yes, you will fall at times. We all do, and we all will. And like any young toddler, we will get up and try again and again.

Step up the moral courage and sensible actions required to invigorate meaningful work, take pride in daily and long-term successes, and keep the focus on the purpose of what we do. Our task now is to find ways to support, flourish and enrich our relationships with children, families, and each other. We can collectively stop obsessing over difficulties, and focus on the strengths and capacity we all possess, in order to make things better for ourselves and for the next generation.

Rethink, adapt, grow. Current problems may be hard, but they are not new nor impossible to make better. Keep positive and optimistic as you walk—possibly even run—across that tightrope. Through all that and more, stay far from the waves of pessimism that can lurk around every corner. Hope lights the world!