Clarity in the Chaos
January 12, 2026
As we enter this new year, many of us carry more than resolutions. We hold grief, fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Around the world and close to home, people are navigating political upheaval, violence, and deepening divides — often alongside personal struggles that go unseen but shape our lives in profound ways. As crises multiply, the pressure to act quickly can overwhelm our capacity to listen, think, and respond with care. In these moments, the question is not simply what to do, but how to move forward in ways that align with our human rights values. When we uphold these values, we help create a world in which all of us can thrive.
Failing to align our actions with our values can have far-reaching consequences, as recent events make painfully clear. In early January, a large-scale U.S. military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, igniting international concerns about sovereignty. Several days later, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, prompting widespread mourning for the tragic loss of human life. And across the globe, millions of people continue to experience horrific human rights violations. These crises show that choices made without attention to underlying values can deepen suffering, erode trust, and perpetuate injustice – both globally and in our local neighborhoods. Yet, when faced with challenges, we often feel compelled to act immediately, attempt to fix what’s broken, and push forward.
At the Wassmuth Center, we invite a different response — one that recognizes the weight of this moment while centering our deepest commitments to dignity, diversity, equality, and joy. Rather than rushing toward action, pausing to observe carefully and reflect deeply can support us to choose paths that align with our values. This approach channels our energy into intentional, principled action that strengthens communities and advances human rights.
That is why, this month, we are focusing on the Wassmuth Powerful Practice: Align Actions With Values. This practice invites us to slow down, examine our human rights commitments, and respond in ways that honor them, even under pressure. Aligning actions with values is not about indecision or inaction; it is about moving forward with clarity, so that what we do reflects what we believe.
This approach has long guided people working for meaningful change. Civil rights leader Ella Baker exemplified this kind of intentional action. During the early sit-in movement, she faced immense pressure to act quickly against segregation. However, Baker paused to ask critical questions about strategy, ethics, and power. She created space for reflection and collective planning, empowering her team to act deliberately and in alignment with their values — even amid urgent, high-pressure circumstances. Baker’s leadership demonstrates that clarity, principled action, and lasting change emerge when we take time to align our actions with our values.
Today, with crises pressing from every direction, our instincts still pull us toward speed, certainty, and control. But aligning our actions with our values asks something different of us: to slow down, observe carefully, and choose our next steps deliberately. When we practice this alignment, we act not from fear or impulse, but from purpose, ensuring that even in difficult moments, our actions protect, restore, and advance human rights.
We can bring this practice into our personal and political lives through intentional steps:
- Pause and take a breath, especially in moments of stress.
- Assess what you know and what you still need to learn.
- Reflect with a trusted friend or colleague to surface different perspectives.
- Choose a path forward that honors your values.
These steps matter most in the everyday moments that test our patience, courage, and integrity. This might look like pausing before responding in a heated conversation, seeking more information before making a decision, or choosing empathy in a disagreement. It may mean noticing when our impulse is to react from fear, anger, or fatigue and instead asking, What action reflects the person I want to be? Practicing intentionality in small, personal decisions cultivates habits of reflection and principled action that ripple outward into our communities and institutions.
This kind of intentionality is crucial because the stakes are high. When governments or communities respond to crises without aligning their actions with human rights values the result is widespread harm, diminished public trust, and an even more difficult path to sustainable peace.
But when actions align with values, a different future becomes possible. On an individual level, this alignment can strengthen relationships and help us grow closer to becoming our best selves. In times of community trauma, it may involve prioritizing transparency and justice. In international and diplomatic contexts, acting intentionally can mean valuing diplomacy, human dignity, and the long-term well-being of civilians over short-term displays of power. While this approach does not eliminate conflict, it helps ensure that each decision contributes to a more just and joyful world.
A new year invites us not just to do more, but to see more and to act with intention. By aligning our actions with our values — in our personal lives and across our communities — we can navigate 2026 with clarity and bring our deepest human rights commitments to life.