When the World Feels Heavy: A Small Way Forward

Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of the world in a deep, visceral way.

Maybe you have too.

There’s no shortage of reasons to feel despair right now—climate collapse, violence, systemic injustice, the relentless pace of heartbreaking headlines. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, powerless, or unsure where to even begin. I get it. I’ve been there too.

In those moments, I sometimes catch myself going numb. Wanting to shut down. Wanting to look away.
But then I remember that numbness is not where I want to live. And it’s certainly not what I want to model to the young people watching me.

There’s a poem from Andrea Gibson called Good Grief that’s been living in my bones lately:

“Let your 

heart break 

so your spirit 

doesn’t.”

That’s it, isn’t it? We let ourselves feel — deeply, honestly — so that we can stay whole. So we don’t shut down. So we don’t give up. So we can still love, and show up, and hope, even when it feels hard.

When my heart starts to crack open under the weight of the world, I come back to a simple question:

What is mine to do today?

That question doesn’t fix everything. But it reminds me that while I can’t do everything, I can do something.
And you can too.

Maybe your “something” is going to a local protest.
Maybe it’s starting a hard conversation.
Maybe it’s making space for rest so you can stay in the work longer.
Maybe it’s reading, donating, learning, unlearning.
Maybe it’s making a sign with your kids that says: “We believe in a better world.”

Whatever it is — let it be small, and let it be enough.

We don’t need you to be perfect.
We just need you to show up. Messy, tender, uncertain, and still willing.

✍️ Journaling Prompts: What Is Mine to Do Today?

If your heart is heavy and you’re unsure where to begin, these prompts can help you reconnect to your values, your courage, and your role in this moment.

1. What’s weighing on my heart right now?
   Try not to filter or fix — just name it.

2. When I feel overwhelmed, what’s one small action that helps me feel grounded or hopeful again?

3. What do I care about most deeply in this world? What breaks my heart about what’s happening right now?

4. What do I want to model for the young people in my life (or my inner child) about standing up to injustice?

5. What’s one thing I can do this week that aligns with my values — even if it feels small or imperfect?

6. What support do I need to keep showing up — for myself, for others, and for the world I want to help create?

7. If I listened closely to the voice inside me asking, “What is mine to do today?”, what might it say?

Let your heart break — and then let that heartbreak guide you gently toward action.
We need everyone, and that includes you.

With care and courage,

Chrissy