Words Robin Evan Willis, Registered Clinical Counsellor
If you’ve been feeling more anxious or exhausted than usual, you’re not alone. We’re living through a convergence of crises: economic instability, escalating global conflict, climate anxiety and deepening social division.
The relentless churn of alarming news leaves many of us overwhelmed and unsettled. But staying informed doesn’t have to mean living in a constant state of agitation. You can care deeply about what’s happening and still care for yourself.
As spring unfolds on the Saanich Peninsula and the natural world begins to soften and bloom, a quiet invitation emerges – a call to return to what grounds us, to ask: What keeps me rooted and hopeful when everything else feels uncertain?
Listen to Your Body Before the Noise Gets Too Loud
Our tablets, phones, news feeds and social media expose us to more stress cues than ever before. In the digital age, every crisis feels like it’s unfolding just outside our door.
Notice how your body feels after a stretch of doom-scrolling. Tight shoulders? A racing heart? That hollow ache in your chest? Maybe even unexpected tears?
These aren’t overreactions. They are your body’s natural responses to sustained threats. Our nervous systems are built to surge and then settle. But in a world of constant alerts and stimulation, that settling rarely comes.
Sometimes, stress shows up as a desire to shut down. Sometimes, it hums beneath the surface or makes small things feel unbearable. That’s your cue to pause, listen inward, and return to your body.
Place your feet on the ground. Let your shoulders soften. Inhale slowly. Exhale longer than you think you need to.
These small acts of reconnection bring you back to the present and remind you: in this moment, I am safe. I am OK.
Protect Your Attention. Fiercely.
Your attention is sacred. Choose a few trusted sources. Turn off notifications. Resist the scroll before bed. Set boundaries with your devices. You’re not avoiding; you’re caring for your inner world.
Stay Connected
We were not meant to carry everything alone. Connection helps us regulate and recover. Spend time with people who make you feel seen. Hug your dog. Dig in the dirt. Let the sound of the waves or the steadiness of the shore remind you that calm is still possible.
Take One Meaningful Action
In a world that feels out of control, agency is the antidote. Smile at a stranger. Hold the door. Donate. Volunteer. These simple acts root us in what matters most: each other.
You don’t have to be brave every day. Some days, it’s enough to pause, breathe and begin again. In a world that feels unkind, choose softness – with yourself and with others.
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