In Times Like These How We Stay Human

Lately, most of us have been living with a quiet heaviness running in the background of our day-to-day lives. 

Even when we’re functioning, caring, and doing what needs to be done, something feels unnerving underneath it all.

There are times when what is happening in the world seeps into our bodies, whether we want it to or not. We carry more tension, more vigilance, more grief, often without realizing how much it's affecting us.

I've written recently about how unsettling things feel. That matters. When the world feels unhinged
But today I want to talk about something quieter and just as important.

How do we stay human in times like these?

What We’re Carrying Without Naming

When the world feels chaotic, our nervous systems take a hit.

We can feel fatigued from the constant onslaught of what we see and hear. It can feel like being pummeled by a wave that keeps coming. We get pulled under, surface for air, and then another wave hits.

There have been times in my life when I felt thrown under by too much happening and too little control. Times when I didn’t realize how deeply I was being affected until I was already exhausted and burned out.

This is what happens when we keep going without stopping to notice where we are inside ourselves.

Thinking About the World We Are Handing Down

Today is my grandson’s fifth birthday. Another grandson, the youngest, just turned one this week.

They do not know each other yet. They live in different countries, in different worlds. And I am the one who holds them both in my heart.

I find myself thinking about the world they're growing into. About what it will require of them to live well, to stay grounded, and to remain human in a time that feels increasingly fragmented and uncertain.

I wonder how grounded and emotionally steady they will need to be as adults to live in it with integrity and resilience.

It reminds me that how we move through times like these matters. Not just for us, but for the people watching us, learning from us, and depending on us.

Staying human is not about denying what is happening. It is about not letting fear and chaos hollow us out from the inside.

What I Come Back to When Things Feel Unsteady

In times like these, I have had to learn that we don’t do anyone any favors by getting swept away.

So I return to something simple. I go inward.

Each morning, I pause. I sit with myself.

Some might call it meditation. For me, it begins with imagining a grounding cord around my waist, dropping deep into the earth. I picture it anchoring me, holding me steady and centered. 

Then I imagine a golden sun above my head, about the size of a beach ball. I let it gather up all the energy I have scattered everywhere. Worries about the world. Thoughts about dinner. My long to-do list. The care I give to others. The checking in. The giving and giving.

I let that energy flow back down through the grounding cord so I can feel settled inside myself again.

I breathe.

Remembering What Is Still True

I remind myself of what I am grateful for.

That I can open my refrigerator and it's full of healthy food.
That I have a safe, warm roof over my head.
I live in a community where people are kind and caring, and it’s safe.
I have access to great healthcare.

I know how unbelievably fortunate that is.

I also remember that many people do not have these basic needs met. I send a quiet blessing to those who are struggling.

This practice does not make me turn away from the world. It helps me stay present without being overwhelmed.

Coming Back to Yourself

There were many years in my life when I didn't do this.

I got swept up in busyness, work, responsibility, and the heartache of the world. I took on too much. I gave too much. I kept pushing.

I didn't realize how dysregulated I had become until I was deep into burnout.

What I have learned is this.

When things feel unsteady, the answer is rarely more information or more effort.

It's pausing long enough to hear yourself again.

Reflection, for me, is not about fixing the present or planning the future. It’s about remembering who I am, especially when the world feels loud.

A Gentle Invitation

If you find yourself feeling untethered, exhausted, or quietly overwhelmed, I invite you to come home to yourself.

Sit quietly. Notice where you are right now.
Notice what’s working in your life.
Notice what feels tender or has gone sideways.

Just notice.

This is what it means to be alive. There will be sorrow, and there will be joy. Both can exist at the same time.

Before we rush into what is next, the next decision, the next reaction, the next thing to figure out, what would it be like to pause and listen inward?

I created a free 10-question reflection to help you begin. It is a gentle place to start.

Go here:  The 10 Question Reset

In times like these, staying human is not a luxury.
It’s essential.

Over to you:

What does staying human look like for you right now? Write to me, I'd love to hear your thoughts. [email protected].