REIMAGINE: Healing the World Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

"Democracy is not something we have—it is something we do. And if we do nothing, it will disappear." - Mary Coughlin

I have a confession to make.

For most of my life, I have been ignorant of what has been happening in the world. I have been privileged—not in the sense of wealth or power, but in the sense that I have lived under the illusion that democracy was stable, that justice would ultimately prevail, that freedom would self-perpetuate.

I was wrong.

I knew, in a distant way, that authoritarianism had taken root in other countries. I read headlines about Russia, China, Turkey, and Hungary. I saw reports of journalists being imprisoned, protestors disappearing, democratic norms unraveling. But it always felt like something happening somewhere else—a tragedy, but not a reality that I had to confront in my own backyard.

But now, authoritarianism is not just knocking on our door—it has broken it down and is running rampant in our house.

And I see it clearly.

I see the manufactured fear and division that turns neighbors against each other.
I see the attacks on truth, on education, on the free press.
I see the relentless efforts to control bodies, voices, and choices.
I see the chilling effect on speech, as people self-censor out of fear.
I see the gaslighting—blaming the victims, shifting the narrative, distorting reality.

And I know that what is happening here is not an accident.

It is part of a pattern—a well-worn script that authoritarian regimes have followed throughout history. And if we don’t confront it, if we don’t resist it, if we don’t actively build something better, it will devour everything that we value.

But I am not writing this from a place of despair.

I am writing this because there is still time to choose a different path.

And that choice begins not with political parties or policies, but with people.
With how we treat each other.
With how we buffer against harm instead of bypassing it.
With how we lead in ways that heal instead of control.
With how we care out loud, even when it's easier to stay silent.

What Can We Do?

A trauma-informed, healing-centered approach to democracy and global well-being starts with relationship, resilience, and radical care. Here’s what that looks like:

1. Buffer, Don't Bypass

In trauma-informed care, we talk about the power of buffering—creating environments that absorb stress rather than amplify it. In the face of political turmoil and division, we need to be buffers for one another.

• Listen to understand, not just to respond.

• Intervene when misinformation and fear-mongering spread, but with curiosity, not condemnation.

• Show up in your community with kindness as resistance.

2. Reimagine Leadership as Healing Work

Whether we hold formal leadership positions or not, we all have the capacity to lead. Trauma-informed leadership means moving beyond power over others and stepping into power with and power for.

• How can we lead in ways that restore trust rather than deepen fear?

• How can we bring the principles of developmental care—safety, empowerment, transparency—into civic spaces?

• How can we cultivate leadership that fosters radical belonging?

3. Care Out Loud

Authoritarianism thrives on silence, disconnection, and compliance. Healing happens when we refuse to be silent about what matters most.

• Speak. Write. Create. Whether through music, stories, protests, or policy, let your voice be part of the healing.

• Care OUTLOUD—not just in words, but in action.

• Ask: What is mine to do? Not everything is ours to fix, but each of us holds a piece of the puzzle.

4. Nurture Resilience—In Ourselves and in Others

Healing is not a one-time event; it is a practice. A trauma-informed world is one where we intentionally cultivate resilience—in our relationships, our communities, and our democracies.

• Engage in creative reflection and growth. What stories do you tell yourself about what’s possible? What needs to be reimagined?

• Support spaces of safety and empowerment—whether that’s trauma-informed healthcare, inclusive classrooms, or democratic processes that invite real participation.

• Remember: resilience is relational. We are not meant to do this work alone.

Tangible Ways to Take Action

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of global challenges. But change doesn’t happen in a single sweeping act—it happens in small, consistent, intentional steps. Here are some tangible ways to help buffer against harm, care out loud, and nurture resilience in the world:

Educate Yourself & Others (Global Focus)

• Books:

  • On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder

  • The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy – Anand Giridharadas

  • How Democracies Die – Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt

  • Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! – Sarah Kendzior & Andrea Chalupa (A graphic novel on how authoritarianism takes hold globally.)

• Podcasts & News Sources: (Diverse, Global Perspectives)

  • Democracy Now! – Independent global news

  • The Ezra Klein Show – Deep dives into politics and democracy

  • Care OUTLOUD – (Your podcast) Exploring trauma-informed leadership and care

  • Freedom House Podcast – Examining global democracy trends

  • BBC Global News Podcast – International democratic developments

Engage in Civic Action (Wherever You Are!)

• Find and support pro-democracy organizations in your country. Some global watchdogs include:

  • Freedom House – Tracks democracy, political freedoms, and human rights globally

  • International IDEA – Focuses on strengthening global democratic institutions

  • Amnesty International – Advocates for human rights and democracy worldwide

• Monitor elections in your country and beyond. If you have the opportunity, volunteer as an election observer with groups like:

  • The Carter Center – Monitors elections worldwide

  • OSCE/ODIHR – European election monitoring

• Protect press freedom.

  • Support independent journalists and media outlets.

  • Use Reporters Without Borders to track press freedom in your country and advocate for threatened journalists.

Build Trauma-Informed Communities & Civic Spaces

• Host a trauma-informed democracy conversation with your community, workplace, or school—center it around buffering vs. bypassing in civic life.

• Support organizations that buffer against harm. Whether it's refugee support, legal aid for marginalized groups, or civic engagement training, grassroots efforts matter.

• Practice relational activism. If you're in a divided community, create intentional spaces where people can have difficult but healing conversations. Groups like Braver Angels (US-based) and More in Common (global) offer great tools for this.

Use Creativity & Expression as Activism

• Write a letter to an independent newspaper about an issue that matters in your country.

• Share personal stories—videos, art, essays—on platforms that allow for global storytelling, like:

  • Medium

  • Global Voices

  • Human Rights Watch Voices for Justice

• Support global artistic resistance movements—from music to murals, artists worldwide are using their platforms to resist authoritarianism.

Care for Yourself in the Process (Global Self-Preservation)

• Join an international reflection or support group that aligns with your values. Groups like:

  • The Wellbeing Project – Supporting changemakers worldwide

  • The Inner Development Goals – Fostering resilience for global activism

• Practice mindfulness & grounding exercises to avoid burnout.

• Set boundaries on doomscrolling—engagement should be intentional, not overwhelming.

• Remember: You don’t have to do everything—just do something.

This is a Moment of Choice

History does not move in a straight line. Democracy, like healing, is not guaranteed—it is something we must nurture, protect, and reimagine together.

I used to think that democracy would always "course correct" on its own. That people in power would ultimately abide by constitutional norms. That our system, flawed as it was, would hold.

Now I know better.

Now I know that democracy is not something we have—it is something we do.

And so, the question I ask myself—and the question I invite you to ask yourself—is this:

What is mine to do?

Let’s choose buffering over bypassing.
Let’s choose leadership that heals.
Let’s choose to care out loud.

The world is waiting.

With care, courage, and a commitment to reimagining,

Mary

P.S.: I know this work can feel overwhelming. But history is not written by those who stay silent—it is shaped by those who choose to care out loud.

You don’t have to do everything. But you can do something.

💡 What is yours to do? Let’s start there.

👉 I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment or share how you’re taking action. And if this piece resonates, please pass it along. The more of us who step forward, the stronger we become.