When the State of the World Feels Overwhelming
Sometimes, the state of the world overwhelms me with such intense sadness that I could lay down for days and weep.
I know I’m not the only one.
The world we live in is complex: All at once, there is potential for immense joy and immeasurable pain.
Some claim the state of the world is worsening.
I don’t believe this to be the case.
No matter the decade, you’ll find war, murder, repression, bigotry, and cruelty. For as long as humans have walked the planet, our darker tendencies have walked alongside us.
Despite my heavy tone, this isn’t a piece meant to encourage despair. Rather, I aim to illuminate the opposite: hope.
Life is painful at times; that’s a fact. But so is our potential for love, compassion, and liberation. Where there is darkness, there can be light. I would prefer to focus on the light — for where focus goes, energy flows.
Here are some practices that help me when the state of the world feels overwhelming:
1. Acknowledge your feelings
We share this earth — and what happens to one, happens to all.
The sadness we feel about the state of the world is a type of grief. We grieve the loss of lives, the needless cruelty, and the destruction of our beautiful home. The loss we collectively feel is real, and the depth of our grief valid.
Feelings are meant to be felt. They show us what we care about — what we want. Feel and understand them. What are they saying? Often, they’re simply reminding us of what matters.
2. Limit your intake of news and media
For years now, I’ve made a deliberate effort to limit my consumption of news and media.
Some consider it important to remain up-to-date with current affairs — but I tend to believe that if it does more harm than good, it’s best to keep a distance.
This isn’t ignorance, but boundaries. There is only so much we can take on before it begins to compromise our emotional well-being.
If it hurts to think about — step back awhile to protect your peace.
3. Understand that you can’t fight fire with fire
Where focus goes, energy flows. By focusing on death and destruction, we feed the fire.
We care deeply, but often have little control over events. What we can control, however, is our energy.
The change begins with us: By cultivating peace and compassion within our immediate circle, we begin creating the change we want to see in the world.
4. Lean into love
Every conflict offers an opportunity to know ourselves in a way that is more loving and powerful than before.
Acknowledge the sadness; the pain — then, choose to lean into love, compassion, peace, and joy. This is how we fight fire: by doing the opposite and generating more of that which we want to see in the world.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
—Mahatma Gandhi
5. Know you aren’t alone
Ultimately, we’re all in this together. Leaning on another when life feels overwhelming helps to lessen the load.
Our darker nature drives us apart — the shadow that has followed humanity through the ages. But when we band together, we have the potential to become stronger and remember who we are.
The state of the world feels overwhelming at times, but there is still room for immense light.
“Life hurts at times. It hurts to have a body at times, hurts to be born, hurts to live, hurts to die, but it can be ecstasy beyond comprehension. You can know that ecstasy. It is inside of you.”
—Frederick Lenz