Everywhere we look, there seems to be something new to fear. Anxiety and instability are on the rise.
People ask, will AI take my job? What kind of world are my kids growing up in? What does the future hold for them, and for us? When will the wars stop? Why are we so divided?
Even among friends, there can be a sense of not being understood.
In that uncertainty, many of us reach for answers wherever we can find them. Increasingly, people are turning to AI for solutions, only to find it often mirrors their own thoughts back at them.
Life starts to feel fragile. Nothing seems entirely secure.
This is just a snapshot of the kinds of conversations I’m having with my clients right now.
What can we do to stay the course? How do we move out of constant fight-or-flight mode, or in some cases, complete denial?
One of the first things I do in my sessions is to invite my clients to consider their lives through the lens of evolutionary biology. I ask them to think about their ancestors, what they endured and survived – plagues, famine, war and uncertainty. Every generation has its unique challenges, and ours is no exception. I want my clients to realize they are as strong as those who came before them.
Next, I like to remind my clients, that everyone needs a struggle, or something to overcome. As humans we are drawn to the struggle, it’s an arc we see in every movie or TV show. The protagonist faces an overwhelming challenge followed by a time of doubt, yet they persevere and find a way through.
We need that challenge too. And we need to accept it as a positive and welcome it in some way. It’s good to say to ourselves, this is my challenge, this is what I get to overcome. We’re not designed for constant comfort. We are built to adapt, and to grow through difficulty.
As our nervous system settles, the next step is to create a plan. How do I make today better? How do I bring more care and intention to my work? How do I treat the people immediately around me, colleagues, neighbors, strangers at the checkout, with more presence and decency?
Our ancestors understood this instinctively. They invested in what was close and focused on families, their communities and the things they could influence. Even those who ventured far eventually built a family and friend circle to depend on. Meaning and stability in their lives were built with the people around them.
When we spend too much time worrying about worst-case scenarios, or the things we can’t control while ignoring what’s in front of us it is exhausting.
While we can acknowledge what is happening around us, our focus has to be on what we can change and make it the best it can be.
If this resonates and you need guidance through your next steps, reach out.
Leave a Reply