The feeling that the world is unraveling can be overwhelming, but it’s important to recognize that every generation has faced challenges that felt insurmountable. History shows us that people have consistently found ways to adapt, rebuild, and thrive.
I have been a fan and a reader of Heather Cox Richardson’s books and articles and watcher of her videos for several years now. She is a wonderful historian. The thing I am sometimes surprised by is how common what we are going through today is throughout our country’s history. On some levels this is comforting, but if we get too caught up in things, it can be depressing.
While the specific issues we face today—climate change, political instability, social inequalities, and technological disruptions—may seem unprecedented, there are steps we can take to regain control and contribute positively:
1. Focus on What You Can Control
This is a big one, potentially an easy one, but also one we often over look. In our mindfulness practice, it is all about awareness. Be aware of what you actually can control and focus on that stuff as everything else is just added stress.
- Identify areas of your life or community where you can make a meaningful impact. That might just be at home in your household and family. It might be at your church or sangha.
- Practice mindfulness and self-care to manage stress and build resilience. If you are reading this, I hope you are already a mindfulness practitioner but if you are not get started ASAP. Feel free to join us for our next meeting or download the Insight Timer meditation app and find a solid meditation based on an area you might be stressed out or just listen to the waves or rain in a timed meditation.
2. Build Community
If you know me well you know this is one I am very passionate about. I have been trying to figure out how to build communities for a decade or more. Sometimes I do good like the Hope & Inspiration Book Club that has been running since 2020. Other times some of my communities fall apart but I keep doing it and keep learning and doing better as I learn and grow.
- Strengthen connections with family, friends, and neighbors. Solidarity helps during crises.
- Join local groups or initiatives working on issues you care about, from environmental conservation to social justice.
3. Educate Yourself
Again, if ya know me you probably know I am a life-long learner and I read like crazy. Education and learning feeds my soul. What could you start learning about that might ease your stress in difficult times? In my darkest times I turned to books like Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life and Buddhist philosophy. Find things that plant seeds to a healthy future.
- Stay informed about global and local issues, but be mindful of avoiding information overload. To be honest, I stay away from the news. It is too much doom and gloom for as long as I can remember.
- Learn about solutions that have worked in similar situations elsewhere and consider how they can be adapted. I liked the Utopia for Realists Book by Rutger Bregman as something that gave me new ideas to explore a few years ago. Find some new innovative thinkers challenging status quo today.
4. Take Action
I am someone that has been a long-time action taker. As I age and move into my deeper understanding of love, calm, and peace I realize that although action can be great, it is important to come from a healthy healed state so we do not just take action and do more harm to ourselves or those we care about.
This is why self-care and healing work is so important all the time, not just when things are falling apart.But what can you do to take healthy positive action? How about…
- Volunteer, donate, or participate in causes that align with your values.
- Advocate for policies that promote long-term stability and justice.
5. Think Long-Term
Some days it is hard to play the long game when it feels like our house is on fire. One thing I can tell you though is I have done some work defining what I want I want to accomplish or who I want to be at the end of my days. For me it is starting with the end in mind and then every day working towards that. The thing is this actually help make thinking long term easy to do naturally as you get to make choices at every moment. Is this going to get me closer or further from who I want to be?
- Invest in sustainable practices in your personal life, such as reducing waste, supporting ethical businesses, and conserving resources.
- Encourage institutions to prioritize long-term planning over short-term gains.
6. Foster Hope and Creativity
I am a creative being at my most natural state and it brings such joy. I think we are all creative or at least way more creative than we give ourselves credit for being. You know the ol’ I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. That negativity is not healthy we gotta let those ideas go. There are so many ways we can benefit for tapping into our creativity.
To be honest, in these times I really feel called to be HOPE for some many that I see struggling right now. I need to be pushing that positive energy out there because there is a lot of despair out there. People need hope. For me I try to feed myself all kinds of positivity from all kinds of places to not only fill my cup but to overflow so I can share it with others.
- Remember that creativity and innovation often arise during times of crisis.
- Support art, storytelling, and cultural movements that inspire unity and vision.
7. Prepare for Change
In life there is only one thing consistent and that is CHANGE. We cannot stop it so we must learn to accept it. In Buddhism we call this Impermanence. Nothing is permanent. Everything will change. This is a beautiful and awful thing.
You may know the old saying… This too pass. That means even the ugly awful stuff. This too shall pass. But the challenge is the good stuff because we cling to that stuff we do not want the good stuff to pass. So what do we do? Prepare for change.
- Build adaptability into your life: diversify skills, save for emergencies, and consider how you can weather economic or environmental shifts.
8. Celebrate Wins
Today we had an amazing sangha meeting with a new group of people. Several I know well but I could not have predicted how things would have gone or that we would have covered what we did, but it was amazingly beautiful even though I got vulnerable and got choked up and cried in front of this group. I put it out there. The meeting was a win. Being able to “put it out there” was a win. Having a meeting with a new group is a huge win.
- Acknowledge progress, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement keeps the momentum alive.
9. Advocate for Systemic Change
This is important work however it is a daunting task at times. After George Floyd’s murder I had enough and spent the last 4 years studying racism. I am working toward systemic change, but it is a slow go and feels impossible at times…
BUT I will tell you the ton of education I have done is influencing others and that IS change. Slowly we are making progress. I wish it was faster of course, but I know in my life there has been a big shift in my own beliefs and in my actions. The more ya know the better ya act.
- Engage in conversations about systemic reforms, whether in governance, climate policy, or social structures.
- Vote, campaign, or otherwise participate in shaping leadership and policy.
10. Practice Gratitude
In my wellness business I created a 5 day gratitude challenge. I have personally gone through it multiple times over the years as a constant refresher to dig deeper in gratitude. This also helps me build gratitude into regular practices in my life. The more ya practice, the better you get. It is powerful even in dark times. It can flip the script.
- Amid uncertainty, finding things to be grateful for can ground you and provide perspective.
The world may feel chaotic, but collective action and individual determination can create ripples of hope and transformation. What specific concerns or challenges feel most pressing to you? We can explore ways to address them together.
If any of this spoke to you I’d welcome you to join us for one of our weekly meetings. Today’s meeting was so powerful and we lived many of the things I discussed in this article. Let us help fill your cup and you can do the same for us. Together we can change the world.