IS THERE A BIGGER MESSAGE FOR THESE TIMES?
I have to admit, I fell down the rabbit hole a few weeks ago. Politics, mayhem, all of it. Normally, I'm pretty good at protecting my peace, but this time I couldn't make the separation. I felt it all: fear, anxiety, anger, rage. And yet, by letting myself actually feel it, and reflect on what it means to me, some things became clearer.
I believe it's important to stay aware of what's happening in the world. And I'm realizing more and more that the only way to shift what's going on "out there" is to face what's happening inside of me. To hold my fears, frustrations, and shadows with compassion. To make mature, intentional choices in my own life that have the potential to ripple outward into the collective.
Years ago, I noticed a disturbing pattern developing: we were losing our civility. Our compassion. People started equating meanness with honesty, and the harshness was everywhere: heated political spats, snide comments online, small, cutting interactions between strangers. And instead of calling it out, we internalized it. We normalized it. We let ugliness pass as truth-telling.
And now we're living with the fallout. More agitation, fear, anxiety, depression. More fixation on what's broken instead of what's possible. Even religion has been weaponized. We're facing more violence, distrust, and blame than ever before.
Here's the thing that might blow your mind a little:
What if we've all played some kind of role in creating this? What if living with more freedom, joy, ease, and genuine community is actually just a decision… one we can choose to make? And what if each of us has the power to help shift our collective story for the better? How empowering would that feel?
I've started asking myself: How am I contributing to the culture I see? What small shifts can I make to help create the kinder, gentler world I long for?
For me, it looks like getting intentional about visualizing the world I want to live in. A caring community. One where every person is seen as valuable, whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, homemaker, cashier, trash collector, or someone who has lost their home. Every person deserves dignity, respect, and care. And everyone has something valuable to contribute.
My vision also invites me to do something each day to help create that reality. It can be big or small, easy or hard. It just has to feel authentic to who I am. That's my commitment to myself and to others.
These times are asking us to learn some powerful lessons:
That resilience lives in community; we cannot carry this alone.
That presence matters more than control; our power is in how we respond, not in trying to manage everything outside of us.
That clarity of values is essential; these moments strip away the distractions and show us what truly matters.
That shadow work is collective work — the breakdowns we're witnessing are calling us to face what we've ignored and heal it. And that life is cyclical — endings almost always carry the seed of renewal.
The question is: What part will each of us play in creating the world we want to inherit?
If you're struggling with these toxic times or feeling stuck, I'd love to support you. Schedule a complimentary discovery call, and let's see if we're a good fit to work together.