Week 39: Holding Steady When the Ground Feels Unsteady

Lately, it feels like every day brings a new wave of uncertainty—another unexpected challenge, another moment of instability, another reason to feel overwhelmed.

If you’ve felt like you haven’t even had a moment to catch your breath before the next crisis hits, you are not alone. The pace of change—whether in work, personal relationships, the world around us, or our own internal struggles—can be relentless. It affects our sense of safety, our ability to plan for the future, and the emotional energy we have left to show up for ourselves and others.

And through it all, life keeps moving. Work deadlines still exist. Families still need our attention. Responsibilities keep piling up, demanding our energy even when we feel drained. It can feel impossible to keep track of everything, let alone keep up with it all.

Maybe you’re feeling helpless. Maybe you’re feeling isolated. Maybe you’re feeling like everything you’ve worked for—whether in your career, your relationships, or your personal healing—is at risk of slipping away.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

When There’s No Room to Process

The constant churn of stress makes it easy to feel like you’re drowning—that you either have to keep pushing forward or risk being swallowed whole. But what happens when there’s no real space to process what’s happening?

In the past few weeks, I’ve heard from people who are:

• Fearful about their stability—questioning whether their workplace, relationships, or communities will still be spaces where they feel valued and safe.

• Worried about their future—concerned about financial security, shifting priorities in their workplace, or feeling like their efforts are being overlooked.

• Anxious about loved ones—wondering how to support family members or friends who are struggling with health, relationships, or life transitions.

• Grieving a sense of control slipping away—feeling like no matter how much they plan or prepare, things keep changing beyond their control.

• Trying to balance everything—feeling stretched too thin, unsure how to prioritize their well-being while navigating work, relationships, or other responsibilities.

These aren’t just abstract worries. They are real, valid, and deeply personal. And when they pile up with no time to process, they can make even the strongest among us feel powerless.

How to Cope When You Feel Powerless

If you’ve been running on empty, bracing for the next hit, and feeling like you have no control over what’s happening—pause. You are not meant to carry all of this alone, and you are not powerless. Here’s what you can do to steady yourself in this moment:

1. Name It: You’re Not "Overreacting"—This Is a Lot

Before you try to push through, acknowledge what you’re carrying. The fear, the frustration, the exhaustion, the uncertainty—these are not just emotions; they are natural responses to an environment that feels unstable.

There is no “right” way to feel right now. There is only what is true for you in this moment.

2. Protect Your Mental & Emotional Energy

When stressors feel endless, it can be tempting to stay hyper-vigilant—constantly refreshing for updates, overanalyzing every possible outcome, or absorbing every bit of information. But overconsumption doesn’t equal control—it equals exhaustion.

Ask yourself:

• Do I need to know this right now?

• Is this information helping me take meaningful action, or is it just fueling my anxiety?

• How can I set limits without completely disconnecting?

It’s okay to step back. It’s okay to mute, unfollow, and take breaks. Protecting your mental and emotional energy is not avoidance—it’s survival.

3. Find Grounding in What You Can Influence

When external circumstances feel overwhelming, focus on what you can affect. This doesn’t mean ignoring the big picture, but rather identifying ways to channel your energy where it matters most.

• Can you set a boundary that protects your peace?

• Can you break a large problem into small, manageable steps?

• Can you focus on a tangible action that supports your well-being or helps someone else?

Small actions may not feel like enough, but they are. They are how we regain a sense of agency.

4. Refuse to Carry This Alone

One of the hardest parts of navigating uncertainty is the feeling of isolation—that no one understands, that you’re facing it alone, that it’s all too much. You are not alone.

• Find people who get it—whether that’s colleagues, community groups, or trusted friends.

• Join spaces where you can process your emotions without having to justify them.

• Lean on people who remind you that you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.

Sometimes, connection doesn’t solve the problem, but it reminds us that we don’t have to solve it alone.

5. Remember That Rest Is an Act of Strength

It’s easy to feel like you don’t have time to rest, but here’s the truth: You cannot navigate stress, uncertainty, or change without giving yourself time to recharge.

Rest is not avoidance. Rest is not weakness. Rest is necessary.

Whether it’s sleep, laughter, movement, music, or a quiet moment to yourself—take it.

6. Acknowledge the Grief—but Hold Onto Hope

There is grief in this moment—grief for what is being lost, for what is at stake, for the uncertainty ahead. Let yourself feel it. But don’t let it convince you that all is lost.

Hard moments do not erase the progress you’ve made. Change, even when painful, does not define your worth or your future. The ability to adjust, to persist, to continue despite uncertainty—that is resilience.

And while all of this is stressful, we are navigating our lives. It’s hard to keep track of everything. It’s hard to keep up. But we are still here. We are still moving forward, even when it feels like the ground beneath us is shifting.

Finally…

If you’ve been feeling lost, exhausted, or like you’re running out of fight, know this:
• You are not alone.
• You are not powerless.
• Your efforts—past and present—matter.

It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to pass the baton. It’s okay to take a step back when you need to. What you have already given is enough. And if or when you are ready, you can continue in the ways that feel right for you.

Take care of yourself. Find your people. Rest when you need to. And when you feel ready—move forward in whatever way serves you best.

What is one small way you can take care of yourself today?