Coming back to the center when everything feels thrown off
In January, people would ask how I’m doing and I’d reply “I’m done with my free trial of 2026.”🙃 But let’s be honest, 2025 erupted with sociopolitical upheaval and chaos that would change and disorient us weekly, if not daily.
And if we’re really honest, it’s been like this since at least 2020 and recently we were reminded in 2016 that John Oliver blew up that whole year since it was so bad!
*Sigh*
Through all the disorientation, there have also been times where we’re reminded of being grounded, being supported by community, and even experiencing joy. So writing off the past 10 years as all bad isn’t necessarily accurate either.
The truth is that a lot of what we’re experiencing now is not unprecedented (just ask any group that has been historically marginalized in the United States). But somehow, with the increased information and content saturation that we take in, our minds and bodies are overwhelmed as we recognize the interconnected nature of what’s happening in our country and the world.
In January, while we regularly recognize that the holidays are over, I’ve heard from folks who are still sitting with difficult conversations, unresolved conflict, or emotional fallout from the holidays. We’re also back at work, back in routines, back in motion…
And we are also still experiencing increased state-sanctioned violence, polarization and oppression, and anger and disappointment in our political leaders. We’re feeling the ongoing strain of systemic instability–trying to make sense of rising costs, the mass lack of moral clarity, and still attending to our daily needs.
There’s a very real fear, grief, and concern about what’s changing, what feels uncertain, and what no longer feels safe or predictable in different areas of our lives. From the most personal dynamics in our families to the larger systems impacting our lives, a lot feels unstable right now.
The reality of what’s happening
So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, numb, or dysregulated, that response makes sense and is understandable. When the world around us feels unstable, our nervous systems register that. Nothing is “wrong” with you for experiencing the reality of what’s happening.❤️🩹
The answer isn’t to force ourselves into calm or regulation just so we can keep functioning inside harmful systems. We don’t need to normalize ourselves into accepting what isn’t okay.
Instead, this season invites a different question with the spirit of maintaining what hope we do have: What helps you come back to center while still acknowledging reality?
Coming back to center doesn’t mean pretending things are fine. It means staying grounded in what helps you remain connected to yourself and others amid the instability.
Finding your anchors
For some, that grounding comes from clearly held values, the things you choose to orient your life around even when everything feels chaotic. It also comes from being reminded of what choice and agency you do have and doing small acts of advocacy that fit within your capacity.
For some, it might be spirituality or religious belief that offers meaning and perspective.
For some, it’s community–relationships, friendships, and spaces that feel nourishing, healing, and supportive.
These are some of my anchors. They don’t remove the instability, but they help me stay rooted while I move through it.
I encourage you to reflect on what your anchors are:
What helps you feel grounded without asking you to disconnect from reality and truth?
What supports you in staying human and recognizing others’ humanity in the midst of uncertainty?
My hope is that these moments of reflection remind you of the anchors that support you and to allow them to keep you rooted.✨