2. Resilience for social change
Practical strategies and inspiring stories to help civil society leaders stay strong, creative, and effective.
Welcome to the second edition of the REWIRE Democracy newsletter! In our first edition, we explored how hope can be a transformative tool for civil society, helping us shift from problem-focused to solution-oriented mindsets.
This month, we’re building on that foundation by diving into resilience: what it takes to stay creative, energized, and determined in the face of challenges.
Below, you’ll:
hear from a judge in Poland who’s stood on the frontlines of democratic resistance,
discover why joy is a non-negotiable tool for resilience, and
learn practical ways to stay grounded and inspired in your impact work.
Let’s dive in. ⬇️
📝 The Learning Curve
Lessons in Resilience: How Polish judges fought for judicial independence
By Karolina Rokita, PhD, Judge in the District Court in Rzeszów, and member of the Media Team in the Polish Judges Association Iustitia. Karolina is part of the Rewire your mind, Rewire your country (REWIRE) hope-based incubator for civil society coordinated by Unhack Democracy and Hope-based Communications.
Resilience is forged in moments of challenge. Over the past several years, Polish judges have had to draw on every bit of their strength to protect the judiciary and uphold the rule of law. It hasn’t been easy, but the fight has shown us what’s possible when we stand together, support one another, and keep moving forward, step by step.
Since 2015, the government of the United Right has taken a series of legal and de facto measures to seize control of the judiciary: the Supreme Court, ordinary courts, and the National Council of the Judiciary. Judges who criticized these changes came under immense pressure. Disciplinary and criminal proceedings were initiated against them, they were removed from adjudication, and their salaries were reduced. These actions were unlawful and intended to have a chilling effect: silencing judges who dared to oppose violations of the rule of law or speak out in public.
But we refused to stay silent. Here are the lessons we’ve learned—and the actions that kept us going:
1️⃣ Stick together: Solidarity is strength
These have been some of the most difficult years that we judges in Poland have faced. In the face of intimidation, our greatest strength has been our unity. Most of the repressed judges belong to my association (Polish Judges Iustitia) and we have always supported one another. When one of us felt overwhelmed or discouraged, the rest of us were there to lift them up.
We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with citizens during protests, including the March of 1000 Robes in Warsaw in 2020, which brought together judges from across the world and thousands of Polish citizens. In our darkest moments, we reminded ourselves and each other: you will never walk alone. Solidarity turned despair into action and kept us resilient.
2️⃣ Remember your why, and anchor yourself in purpose
For me, resilience comes from remembering why I act. I swore allegiance to the Constitution, and I want my daughters to live in a country where they can decide for themselves who they love and what they do with their bodies. Where the state protects its citizens.
These values may sound lofty, but in the toughest moments, they’re what give me strength. Anchoring yourself to a mission provides clarity and keeps you moving forward.
3️⃣ Amplify your voice
We didn’t just resist behind closed doors. We took our fight public. Our media presence was hyperactive, generating over €35 million in advertising value in 2023 alone, all with a €0 budget. We collaborated with NGOs in Poland and abroad, building networks that strengthened our efforts.
Even our actions were captured in powerful documentaries, like Judges Under Pressure, which was awarded at film festivals internationally. Sharing our story amplified our cause and inspired others to join us.
4️⃣ Adapt and find new paths when one fails
In times of resistance, flexibility is just as important as determination. When one approach didn’t work, we tried another. We protested in the streets. We filed complaints with Polish and European courts. We collaborated with allies to strategize new approaches.
Resilience isn’t about stubbornly sticking to a single tactic; it’s about persistence, creativity, and trying again until something works.
5️⃣ Take it step by step: Consistency builds change
Resilience, to me, means consistent, deliberate action. Step by step, we worked to defend the judiciary and uphold the rule of law. In the most difficult moments, we reminded ourselves to keep going and to remember the successes we’d already achieved.
Growth and resilience are built in these challenging moments. Just keep doing your thing, and you will change the world for the better.
Our resilience has helped slow the destruction of the judiciary and shown the power of solidarity, persistence, and purpose. These lessons apply not only to our fight but to anyone working in civil society. As part of the REWIRE Incubator, I’m continuing to train that ‘hope muscle.’ Resilience is a skill we can all strengthen, and it’s just as important for movements and communities as it is for individuals. Together, we can build a brighter future, step by step.
What resilience lessons can your community learn from this story? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
⚒️ Toolbox for Change
Building resilience: Joy and Self-Awareness as tools for change
By Zsofia Banuta, Co-founder of Unhack Democracy
We chose to work in the civic space because we care deeply about creating well-functioning, fair societies, and the work we do often takes place in challenging, emotionally heavy spaces. Without resilience, we know how burnout can take hold of us, how our creativity can stall, and the momentum for change can slow.
How can we fuel our creative change-making machine and keep going in the face of adversity? Two powerful approaches to becoming more resilient are cultivating joy and practicing self-awareness.
1. The power of joy for changemakers
Joy is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. It’s the fuel of activism and the foundation of sustainable change. Joy gives us energy to imagine, create, and keep going in the face of challenges. Without joy, we risk burnout, losing our imagination and resilience. Joy is resistance itself.
As author Krista Tippett says: “The capacity to reach for joy, and to know that it is actually part of the struggle, keeps other things like hope alive.”
By embedding joy as a daily practice, a ritual in our lives, we can build the energy and creativity needed to navigate difficult times and find new pathways for change.
Some practical steps to embed joy into your day-to-day:
Spend time in nature. Go for a walk, visit a park, or just take a moment to appreciate the outdoors.
Embrace humor. Have a laugh with colleagues or find ways to bring lightness into your work.
Move your body. Stretching, exercise, dance, or a few minutes of deep breathing can re-center you.
Lift your spirits with art. See an exhibition or listen to music that inspires you..
Build connections. Foster a sense of belonging by engaging with your community or support network.
And while joy provides the energy and creativity to sustain us, self-awareness ensures we channel that energy effectively toward meaningful change.
🌊 Internet resting point! 🌊
For changemakers navigating tough challenges, resilience starts with taking a moment to pause and recharge. Take a deep breath, press play, and let the calm waves remind you to pause. Stay here as long as you need; this video is your reminder that rest fuels the impact you’re creating. (Tip: turn on the volume up for extra relaxing vibes!)
2. Practicing self-awareness to build inner strength
Resilience begins with understanding and managing your emotions. Just as democracies thrive on pluralism, individuals need to recognize and integrate the full spectrum of their emotions, from anger and fear, to hope and purpose.
The work we do as civil society leaders requires self-awareness and accountability. When we acknowledge and manage our emotions, we strengthen not only our individual resilience but also our capacity to collaborate, empathize, and lead.
Practical ways to build self-awareness:
Practice mindfulness meditation and compassion. Engage with the present moment. As Tara Brach, leading Buddhist psychologist and meditation teacher recommends, follow these 4 steps to practice radical-self compassion (also known as RAIN):
Recognize what is happening;
Allow the experience to be there, just as it is;
Investigate with interest and care;
Nurture with self compassion.
You can use these steps when you experience a challenging situation or a standalone mediation.
Resilience doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built through intentional practices of joy and self-awareness. When we integrate joy and self-awareness into our daily lives, we not only build resilience but also cultivate the creativity and energy needed to shape a better future.
Let’s make joy and self-awareness part of our daily toolkit for change, and part of the way we practice democracy in action.
🔗 Resource Round-Up
Dive deeper: Resources to build resilience and creativity
If you’re looking for more tools to build your resilience and fuel creativity, here are some resources we love:
The Ahead app: Dubbed the ‘Duolingo for emotional intelligence,’ Ahead is designed to help users ‘rewire their brains’ (sound familiar?) and develop emotional and mental well-being. Civil society leaders can use it to take a quick five-minute mental health break while gaining insights into their emotions. The app offers a free 7-day trial before transitioning to a paid subscription. Let us know if you try it! — Gabriella
In-Sight Collaborative’s Humanitarian Wellness Toolkit: Developed by humanitarians and mental health specialists, this toolkit offers practical resources grounded in the latest research to promote mental and emotional well-being in the humanitarian sector. A must-have for civil society leaders navigating emotionally taxing work. — Gabriella
Tara Brach’s Program, 2025 - A Year of Courageous Love: This year-long program provides tools to cultivate compassion, courage, and resilience in challenging times. Perfect for those looking to deepen their self-awareness and emotional strength. — Zsofi
Krista Tippett’s On Being Podcast: Explore inspiring conversations on joy, resilience, and the intersections of humanity and activism. A rich resource for finding hope and staying grounded in your values. — Zsofi
Action for Happiness monthly calendars: These free, downloadable calendars provide daily actions to boost mental well-being and foster positive habits, for example: ‘say hello to a neighbor’. Perfect for embedding small, actionable moments of joy into your routine. — Elliott
Joyful Human Rights by William Paul Simmons: This book challenges the conventional framing of human rights by focusing on joy as an integral element of resilience and recovery. By emphasizing joy as a transformative force, this resource provides fresh perspectives for anyone working in human rights or civil society. — Elliott
Have any other resources for the community? Share them in the comments!
✨ Ready to become more resilient?
Now you know: resilience isn’t just about surviving, it’s about thriving—yes, even in challenging times. We hope this edition has inspired you to prioritize your own resilience and provided you with some practical tools to fuel your creativity and sustain momentum.
What helps you stay resilient in your line of work? Share your thoughts in the comments. And remember to find your moment of joy today; you deserve it.
See you next month!