When the World Feels Like It’s Crumbling
Life goes on despite adversity
The next few years will be difficult. Darkness is spreading across the world, uncertainty and unrest dominate headlines, magnified by grim images and divisive words from those in power. It’s a heavy burden to bear, this constant reminder of a world in turmoil. From the small corners of our world to the most powerful country in the world, everything reminds us that things are not going well. The world is on fire, and the basic principles of a reality we have grown accustomed to, appear to be crumbling.
So, how do we manage? How do we keep our hope without giving in to despair? How do we move forward, in the days and years ahead without sinking into grief and resignation?
Over the years, I found that the best defence lies in a simple truth: the world is not ending. No matter how dire the signs may be, things always change, sometimes slowly and painfully, but change is inevitable. I’ve lived through tough times—personal crises, economic downturns, political upheavals, pandemics, environmental disasters. And yet, even in those moments when it felt like the world was sinking, life continued, and in the day-to-day reality, I was, mostly, okay.
That is because human life is not just the sensational headlines, the negativity of social media or the societal conditions. Life is something richer, multi-dimensional and incredibly resilient. It always finds ways to adapt, and to remind us of its beauty even amidst the most challenging circumstances. No matter how chaotic the world may seem, life goes on.
So, that’s the defence: to live fully, despite it all. Yes, it’s crucial to read, stay informed, analyse and understand what is happening around us. But it is also important to build our defences - not only to help us get through the tough times but to be prepared to react when necessary. Darkness is but a temporary reality that requires a huge effort to maintain and is always fragile and desperately vulnerable to the inbreaking of light. One thing is certain, when the tide eventually turns—and it will—we will be better people for having endured.
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