Many headlines and stories about democracy aim to reel people in and ignite their emotions. Individual passions for certain issues can lead to fissures in relationships as easily online as in person. A way to stay connected to the democratic value of acting on behalf of the common good is to ground yourself, especially before turning on a screen.
Use these steps to get grounded:
- Sit comfortably in front of your device or computer for one to five minutes.
- Take long, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.
- Envision the headlines or comments that trigger you during a typical session on the Internet. Does your body tense? Does your heartbeat accelerate? Ask those parts of your body to relax.
- Ask yourself what sites you may visit that not only remind you of your passion, but of peace and justice work in the world.
- Imagine that you encounter some difficult content; then try to visualize a response to harsh comments where you honor your passion but also respect the dignity of the other person.
Carry this sense of balance with you as you turn on your screen.
— Kristin Ritzau in Practicing Democracy Online