Upheaval. Chaos, confusion. Radical change. The “New World Order.” The “new normal? However we frame it, we are in turbulent times — and are headed for more of the same.

Do we need to adjust to it? Or do we make the changes needed to maintain our course, our democratic republic, our ethics and morals? Wherever we turn, we can simply not afford to ignore the red flags and warning signs we read about and see everywhere every day.

So many of us care deeply about humanity and being humane. We work toward the preservation of our environment and world. We strive to put into daily actions values such as equality, equity, respect, truth, honesty, and DEIB. Above all, it is my feeling that we have no choice but to remain steadfast in the work we do to create hope and peace. Now is not the time to give up and let negativity fester. Whatever the reasons, the ethnocultural and sociopolitical needles seem to have backslid to what feels like the 1950s.

Those of us on the side of positivity must continue to pursue our vision of building a safer and saner society. Our energy and “never-quit” attitude are needed now more than ever. “The fight” is on — a battle, as President Joe Biden has said, for the soul of our country. It is an ongoing struggle to maintain the core and roots of our democracy. These next years will severely test our personal and collective resiliency.

It’s been said that the measure of any relationship or life event is not when things are sailing smoothly. Rather, it is when there is conflict, confusion and chaos that we get to know who we are and who our neighbors are. Four score or so years ago, Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do … and do one thing every day that scares you.”

Acting boldly in the face of fear takes courage. It is of paramount importance that we find this courage while acknowledging and acting on our fears, whatever they are.

Beyond the vote count of a month ago, now is the time to stand up (once again) and be counted — using our voices, our collective sense of goodness for all. My hope is that we will continue to develop tactics and strategies to regain kindness. We know that the journey of life is a long and winding road. No matter how embittered one may feel, we cannot step off that road. To the contrary, we must continue to strengthen and reinforce it.

No matter what our politicians and leaders say or do, I will continue to serve my communities through my volunteer work, training and consulting on the local and larger levels.

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Rather than capitulate to food insecurity in one of the poorest counties of our commonwealth, I will continue to cook for and serve on the board of The Stone Soup Café. Rather than give into the wanton and random acts of violence that occur daily on our neighborhood streets, I will continue to conduct trainings and workshops and support the work of Training Active Bystanders. I imagine many of us have similar examples of facing the challenges we experience to better the life circumstances of others.

One of the biggest challenges of progressive organizations is that they seem to have to compete with similarly minded groups simply to survive in tough financial times in an era of political strife and turmoil. This “divide and conquer” mentality keeps these groups distant and separate from one another. Since one of the larger goals of human rights organizations is to support those with fewer opportunities, we should acknowledge that those doing this work are headed in a similar direction. As has been said innumerable times by others, “We’re all in this together.”

One key word to emerge from all of this is critical: collaboration. To “co-labor” is to work peaceably and respectfully with others for the betterment of all. This is not only the road map to survival, but the path toward enabling those who struggle to thrive. The myths of the “survival of the fittest,” “to each their own,” and “the rugged individual” are no longer helpful — if indeed they ever were.

Enter John Donne’s oft-quoted words: “No one (man) is an island.” Research and life experience have shown us that we are better and stronger together than apart.

I believe we are at our best and strongest when we can hold the big picture of things. No one wants to have our world rocked by the inevitability and certainty of change. Change is an inherent and inherited condition of all humanity. Learning to move forward in the face of it is about grace, love, and unyielding hope.

I urge that we do our best to maintain ourselves, using our skills of emotional regulation, social and emotional intelligence, and the perspective of “I = We” in pursuing healthy and healing visions of a future that is anything but knowable. We need each other to create meaningful community. Steadiness and a sense of calm will be one of the many balms that propel us forward into this future. Engaging in active collaboration and listening are high among the skill sets that we’ll need to rebuild a safer and saner society.

Daniel Cantor Yalowitz writes a regular column in the Recorder. A developmental and intercultural psychologist, he has facilitated change in many organizations and communities around the world. His two most recent books are “Journeying with Your Archetypes” and “Reflections on the Nature of Friendship.” Reach out to him at danielcyalowitz@gmail.com.