Let me tell you something I know deep in my soul: good mental health, real wellbeing, it relies on one thing above all else—having a sense of agency, knowing that your voice matters. And yet, every time I see someone rallying around a political “saviour,” someone who promises to do it all for them, I feel a pang of worry. It’s a setup that takes people’s power away, leaving them reliant, voiceless, waiting for someone else to “fix” things.
In my last post, I wrote about Trump’s appeal, and it’s no secret that for millions, he represents a kind of protector, someone who promises to take up their battles, defend their values, and “fix” the system. But when we pin all our hopes on a single figure—no matter who that person is—what we’re really doing is giving up a bit of ourselves, handing over our power to someone who says, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” It might feel like relief, but it’s fleeting. Because sooner or later, we wake up to find that nothing’s really changed, and the world’s still just as complicated and messy as ever.
We can’t hand over our agency to someone else, no matter how strong their promises sound. The real work? That’s in reclaiming our voice, trusting that our actions—small as they may seem—truly count. We’re told we’re too small to make a difference, that only “big” voices matter. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s rubbish.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: it’s in having agency, in speaking up, that we feel alive. This isn’t some lofty idea; it’s reality. When we feel like we have a say, we’re healthier, more resilient. We get up with a purpose, not because someone’s going to save us, but because we know we can do something—anything—that helps.
The real strength we need isn’t in a politician’s promise. It’s in us. It’s in communities coming together, in people working on the ground to make small changes that ripple outward. And when we see our own efforts pay off, that’s when our sense of agency, our resilience, grows. And it’s our collective resilience, our shared power, that will make a difference.
So, let’s stop waiting for a “hero” to ride in and take the weight off our shoulders. Let’s get out there—volunteer, join a local group, speak up for what we believe in. This is how we take our power back, one small action at a time. Because trust me, real change doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from doing.
So next time someone tells you they’ve got all the answers, that they’ll handle it all for you, pause. Ask yourself: What could I do instead? Where could I make a difference? How can I add my voice to the mix? Because that’s where real strength lies—not in hoping, but in knowing we have a voice, and we’re using it.
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