My kids are in their early 20s. Both of my daughters have always been passionate activists—helping the homeless, standing up for those less fortunate, and speaking out against discrimination in all its forms. I’m deeply proud of them.
Yet, when they talk about the injustices of the world, I often hear a lot of anger. And that’s completely understandable. There are countless issues in our world that stir up frustration and rage—especially when it feels like there’s only so much any of us can do to create real change. To say that growing up and navigating your 20s in today’s world is difficult would be an enormous understatement.
I think back to 2020—during the height of the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, George Floyd’s death, and so much social unrest. The anger in my girls was palpable—and with good reason. But over time, I’ve come to see that while anger can ignite awareness, it rarely sustains transformation.
Anger fuels resistance. Love fuels transformation.
Anger has its place—it can be a powerful catalyst for awareness and action. But by itself, anger doesn’t resolve what’s broken. It can keep us locked in opposition rather than leading us toward healing and inner peace.
Mother Teresa once said she would never be part of a resistance movement because resistance comes from anger. Instead, she chose to be part of a peace movement—to act from compassion rather than opposition.
So maybe we can all ask ourselves:
How can we channel our feelings about the injustices of the world—or even our daily frustrations—into a response rooted in peace, not resistance?
The next time you feel anger rise within you, pause. Breathe. Can you respond from love and peace instead? That choice, more than anything, is what truly transforms the world.