Max Littman, LCSW
February 8, 2025
I’ve been sitting with the whirlwind of oppressive policies and destructive tactics flooding out of the Trump administration. The pace and intensity feel like a deliberate attempt to shock us into submission, to keep us reactive, disoriented, and divided. And I’ll be honest: it’s working on me in ways I’m still trying to understand.
Living in California, in the Bay Area, I’m acutely aware of my privilege. I’m white, cisgender, with social, economic, professional, and familial resources that buffer me from the harshest consequences of these political shifts. But even from this position, the fear, rage, and despair seep in. My internal system responds with a familiar pattern: freeze. Parts of me exile the terror, while protectors move in to keep me from drowning in the rage. It’s a survival strategy, but it leaves me wondering:
How do we stay connected to our all-loving core when facing such intentional destruction and violence?
From an IFS perspective, these reactions aren’t surprising. Our protective parts are doing their best to manage the overwhelm, but in doing so, they can distance us from Self, that calm, compassionate, curious, courageous center. The very chaos being sown externally mirrors the chaos stirred within. The challenge becomes not just resisting oppressive systems out there but also navigating the internal fragmentation they trigger.
The proliferation of misinformation and the saturation of media outlets add another layer of complexity. The sheer volume of perspectives and products makes it nearly impossible to find common ground or foster genuine community. It feels like we’re all swimming in an ocean of noise, struggling to hear our own thoughts, let alone connect meaningfully with others.
This brings me to the central question I’ve been grappling with:
How do we not lose ourSelves in all of this?
How do we maintain our connection to Self, to our core of love, compassion, and courage, when everything around us is designed to pull us apart, both internally and collectively?
And beyond that:
How do we stay connected to each other?
In times of such division and polarization, it’s easy to retreat into our echo chambers, to surround ourselves only with those who think and feel as we do. But real connection requires courage, the courage to engage with differing perspectives, to remain open and curious even when it feels uncomfortable. And how does one do that in the face of livelihood and life threatening actions? Is that even possible or warranted?
Perhaps the hardest question of all is this:
How do we hold oppressors with love and understanding when their behaviors are so oppressive, life-threatening, dangerous, and destructive?
This doesn’t mean condoning their actions, ignoring the harm they cause, or laying down in submission. But from an IFS lens, we can recognize that even the most harmful behaviors stem from deeply burdened parts, parts that may be driven by fear, pain, or unacknowledged wounds. Holding this perspective doesn’t excuse the harm, but it might help us resist the pull toward hatred and dehumanization, which only perpetuate the cycle of division.
Barstow’s Right Use of Power talks about using power morally and ethically, grounded in self-reflection and receptivity. But what does that look like when leadership at nearly every level seems devoid of these principles? How do we, as individuals and as a community, embody these values in our own lives?
I don’t have clear answers to any of this, but maybe that’s not the point. Maybe the work is in the questions we ask ourselves and each other:
- What parts of me are activated by this political chaos?
- How are my protectors managing the fear, rage, or helplessness?
- What parts are acting on my behalf to protect me in the external world and could use my acknowledgement and appreciation?
- Where can I find moments of Self-energy amidst the overwhelm?
- How can I stay connected to others in meaningful, courageous ways without getting swept up in the division?
- What does moral and ethical use of my own power look like right now?
- How can I hold space for understanding and compassion, even toward those who are causing harm, without compromising my values or the safety of others?
These are the questions I’m holding close. And maybe, in sitting with them together, we can find a way to navigate this storm without losing ourselves, and each other, in the process.
For feedback and comments, I can be reached at max@maxlittman.com.
I provide private practice mentorship, consultation, and therapist/practitioner part intensives.
