Life is not sustainable in the extremes, only in balance. 

Take, for example, climate change. An increase in weather patterns producing “record-breaking” catastrophes, prolonged droughts that wither crops and dry up water reservoirs, out-of-season wildfires that obliterate communities’ homes and livelihoods, extreme heat waves that raise energy prices, and sea level rise that threaten millions of people living in coastal cities around the world are signs of a world living ever more in the extremes. 

While humanity and natural systems continue to demonstrate resiliency in the face of temporary or prolonged extreme conditions, long-term sustainability has yet to be observed. In fact, it’s been long understood that such conditions most often result in system collapse or extinction. The same is true for our social systems, and the growing anxiety is palpable.

When empowered, extremist beliefs have radical impacts on people and the environment. Feelings of uncertainty, confusion, and fear are growing among our communities. Even the markets are reacting negatively, which will almost certainly impact the quality of life for everyone in the years to come if the trends continue. Thankfully, the cause is not hard to discern, but working toward a solution will be more challenging.

Since taking office, President Trump and his allies have systematically fired or removed non-loyalists across major agencies in the government, shuttered humanitarian programs, transformed the justice system to insulate and dismantle accountability, pardoned nearly 1,500 insurrectionists, hired unqualified loyalists to cabinet positions and vital national security agencies, stoke fear with aggressive deportation raids, side with authoritarians and war-makers, and set into motion inevitable price increases on everyday goods in an inflationary market. All of this in just a little more than 30 days—and it’s just the beginning.

Extremism fails because it presumes its worldview is always correct. When political extremists gain enough adherents and power through empty promises and manipulation, they attempt to implement their overzealous ideas at scale. These are the well-worn tactics of authoritarians, high-control groups, and new religious movements. Despite clear lessons learned by the watchful, many still fall prey to the propaganda and charismatic ideals of false hope.

Extremists will always attempt to sell a better way of life while enriching themselves at the expense of others. True hope is built on holistic solutions that seek equitable and sustainable systems for everyone, everywhere. Holism nurtures, upholds, and seeks balance among all connected things. Extremism disrupts, dismantles, and harms in the name of self-preservation. One cultivates a sustainable existence, the other a downward slide of societal degradation.