world of color
Struggling to keep up?
Our world is getting more complicated by the day and our minds are struggling to keep up. In response, we try to put things into tidy opposites: good or bad, male or female, Democrat or Republican.
It feels safer, more manageable.
Along with simplifying and narrowing our perspective when we feel overwhelmed, we tend to speed up, judge, and pressure ourselves. This is our nervous system revving into action. Underneath all of that activation is a simple question: am I safe or not?
A lot of us live in a constant state of “safe/unsafe” and “black/white” perception. Our nervous system is working on overdrive…and it’s draining! And yet, it’s a totally normal human reaction to living in such a fast-paced, complicated world.
If we weren’t feeling some level of stress about global crises, social issues, or personal challenges, that would be a red flag.
It’s okay to be concerned—it’s part of being human.
But how we respond matters.
More than ever, we need real sources of comfort.
The biggest mistake we can make is looking for that comfort outside of ourselves — through distractions, numbing behaviors, or trying to control things that are beyond our control.
We forget that there’s strength and peace inside ourselves. Or, more likely, we were never taught.
Try this out…
Repeat these two sentences to yourself and see how they affect your body and mind.
“The earth is burning!!”
“I’m worried about global warming, but I’m doing what I can to live more sustainably.”
The first one is a classic example of black-and-white thinking (global warming = unsafe). The second one acknowledges the complexity of the issue but also our power in it.
What can we control?
We can’t always control the situation, but we can control HOW we respond. THAT’S WHERE OUR POWER LIES.
If you find it hard to tap into your rational voice, take notice. You might hear a harsh inner voice:
“I’m a total hypocrite — I drive a gas guzzler”
“I’m helpless mess … why even try,”
These thoughts can feel heavy, but they’re not the truth. They’re often the result of complex trauma (C-PTSD), which distorts how we see ourselves and the world. Judging ourselves when we’re already struggling just compounds our suffering. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
So, take a deep breath. Be kind to yourself. It’s okay to be vulnerable, and healing is possible with the right support . Working with a complex trauma therapist can make a (colorful) world of difference.