Balance in Toubled Times

The World Is Shifting—And So Are We

The pace of change these days? Dizzying.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

Lately, I find myself pausing more often to retreat, to heal, to gather my thoughts and strength before stepping back into the noise.

What’s going on?
Maybe a better question is—what isn’t?

The world we once knew is in a near-constant state of flux.
Emotions are running high. 

Tribalism, intolerance, and hatred are seeping through the cracks and spilling across headlines, comment threads, and social feeds. 

The climate is wild and unpredictable. Institutions we once leaned on—education, healthcare, even democracy—feel increasingly fragile.

It’s a lot, and it’s exhausting.

Some are coping by grasping at the past, blaming others, lashing out, or trying to impose control in the face of uncontrollable momentum. But here's the truth: no one can stop this tide. Change is here, and it’s rolling in like the ocean. We can resist, but we can't stop it.

The only choice we truly have is how we move through it.

Striving for Balance in Unbalanced Times

Like many, I’ve been struggling to stay grounded. It feels like we’re always bracing for another wild stretch ahead—one that will demand strength, resilience, and our most authentic selves.

But how do we show up as our best when we’re already running on empty?

We didn’t arrive in this moment well-rested. Most of us—especially those outside the top 1%—have been pushing hard for years: Long hours, multiple jobs, minimal rest, and precious little time to even breathe.

Now, this global unraveling has exposed and amplified those pressures. It’s forcing us to reckon with what’s broken,and what desperately needs to change.

Systemic transformation won’t happen overnight especially in its current state of decomposition, but it must happen. There’s no alternative. In the meantime, we need to tend to ourselves. To our health. Our hearts. Our well-being.

Below are a few grounding practices I’m trying to implement. Maybe they’ll help you too.

1. Honor Your Health

Stress erodes everything. It steals from your mind, your body, and your spirit. Now more than ever, we need to tend to the basics:

• Eat nourishing foods. Colorful fruits, leafy greens, and lighter meals that energize instead of drain.

• Hydrate. Aim for at least 4 glasses of water or herbal teas daily. Minimize dehydrating drinks like caffeine and alcohol—or at least balance them with water.

• Rest. For most people, 6–9 hours of quality sleep makes a real difference. Your body needs recovery time.

• Move. Walk, stretch, dance, hike—anything that gets your blood flowing. Just 20 minutes of movement a few times a week can lift your mood and reduce stress.
  
  

2. Find Your People

Surround yourself with those who uplift you. Be with people and in spaces where you feel seen, accepted, and alive. This could be a community garden, a book club, a dance class, or a support group. Anywhere you can give and receive energy, joy, and meaning. Your spirit needs a place to breathe.

3. Unplug and Reclaim Your Mind

News and social media have become a nonstop IV drip of crisis, comparison, and chaos. Unplug when you can. Step away from the headlines. Mute the doom-scrolling. Set boundaries with the onslaught of negativity. By disconnecting, you give your nervous system a break—and your own inner voice space to speak.

4. Lead with Kindness

Kindness is not weakness. It’s a powerful, radical act especially in times of fear and division. While cruelty triggers our survival instincts, kindness awakens something higher: empathy, clarity, and hope. The world is hurting. Kindness won’t fix everything, but it’s a balm and a beginning.

5. Reorder Your Priorities

Take more breaks. Rest more deeply. If you’ve been running on 50-hour work weeks, see if 45 is possible. If you’ve been skipping what brings you joy, carve out space for it again. Trade a bit of grind for a bit more grace, and remember to revisit what matters most: Time with loved ones, laughter, stillness.These aren’t luxuries—they’re lifelines. They replenish the well you draw from to help others.

Healing Ourselves, Healing the World

When we begin aligning our lives with our values as we are able, and when we honor our bodies, seek connection, and lead with compassion—we don’t just survive the moment. We begin to shape it.

The more of us who move through the world from a place of intention, no matter how hard the world is trying to throw us off course (and it is), the more likely it is that our collective future reflects that wholeness.

A healthier world begins with a healthier us.