How Do We Care for Ourselves — and Others — in a World That Feels Unsteady?

How Do We Care for Ourselves — and Others — in a World That Feels Unsteady?

A steadying guide for highly attuned humans to stay connected, resourced, and caring when the world feels unpredictable.

As we step into 2026, I think we need to begin with honesty.

This is not an easy moment in our world.

Global tensions are rising, world leaders are casting threats and shifting alliances, and the sense of stability many of us have taken for granted feels noticeably shaken. The ground beneath us feels less predictable than it once did, and for many people, this uncertainty is quietly — or sometimes loudly — activating a deep undercurrent of fear.

If you’re feeling stretched, anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to move forward, I want you to know this:

You’re not alone.
And you’re not imagining it.

This truly is a difficult time to be a human trying to care for yourself while also caring for others.

Most of us weren't taught how to live through moments like this.


For many people in North America, there has always been a quiet assumption that things eventually work themselves out — that the system, imperfect as it may be, generally holds. We’ve trusted that leaders will follow the rules and that the checks and balances built into our governments don’t require our constant attention.

For decades, that sense of stability allowed us to look away from politics and global affairs, trusting that the people “in charge” would act responsibly enough that we could focus on our own lives.

So I fully understand why some people want to bury their heads in the sand right now.

It feels comforting to believe that this will pass.
That things will naturally right themselves.
That someone else will step in and handle the hard parts.

And honestly? I wish I could rest in that place too.

But lately, I cannot.

Because something feels different this time.


The world order is shifting.
Power structures are changing.
Long-trusted systems are wobbling.

The future doesn’t feel as familiar or predictable as it once did.

People have lost their lives.
There is real harm and loss unfolding.

And the questions many of us are carrying sound like this:

  • How do we stay awake to what’s happening without collapsing into fear or helplessness?
  • How do we keep caring for others — clients, family, community — when existential threats loom in the background?
  • How do we stay grounded enough to function when the world feels anything but grounded?

There’s no single answer.

But I can share what has helped me — not to escape what’s happening, but to stay present without being swallowed by it.

Living with uncertainty requires an embodied practice.


When the world feels unstable, the mind instinctively tries to take over. It works hard to solve, control, predict, and outrun the unknown. It searches for certainty in places where certainty simply doesn’t exist.

But eventually, the mind hits a wall, because fear can’t be “thought” away.

This is where the body becomes essential.

For me, navigating this moment has meant returning to embodied practices every single day… and sometimes more than once a day.

These practices don’t erase the uncertainty; they simply help me stay present within it.

EFT/Tapping


Tapping has become one of the most reliable ways I ground myself.

It helps me acknowledge what’s true:

“I’m scared.”
“I feel overwhelmed.”
“I don’t know how this plays out.”

And in the acknowledgment, something softens.

My body stops bracing.
My breath returns.
My mind finds a little more clarity.

EFT has become one of my primary support tools, because it’s about being honest about my uncomfortable feelings. When I can admit I’m scared and meet the fear with acceptance, instead of denying it or bypassing it, something shifts.

Pairing that honesty with self-acceptance gives me permission to care for myself in the moments I feel least steady.

And that helps me find a small, real sense of safety right where I am.

Movement + Exercise


Most days movement looks like a full workout, and an afternoon walk with my dog with no headphones and no cell phone.

Whatever form it takes, movement helps the body metabolize the constant drip of stress and uncertainty that so many of us are feeling right now.

It gives the nervous system a place to move what the mind can't resolve.

Small Joys


I used to roll my eyes at the advice to “find joy in small things."

But now I understand that small joys aren’t meant to ignore the discomfort, they’re meant to remind us that there beauty still exists alongside it.

They tether us to life and to meaning.

  • a warm drink

  • a moment of sunlight

  • a laugh with someone you love

  • a quiet kitchen

  • a bittersweet song

None of these are trivial.

They give the body a way to settle into safety, even when the mind is still searching for answers.

Showing up for others in uncertain times requires presence, not perfection.


If you support others — personally or professionally — you may be feeling the added pressure of trying to stay steady for them, even when you don’t feel steady yourself.

Here’s what I think:

We don’t numb out.
We don’t ignore what’s happening.
We don’t pretend we’re unaffected.

Instead, we learn to pause.
To breathe.
To return to ourselves again and again.

We let our bodies process what our minds cannot.

And we allow joy not because everything is okay, but because we deserve moments of aliveness in the midst of uncertainty.

If you're looking for support navigating this moment...


You don’t have to do it alone.

I support helpers and highly attuned humans in staying resourced, regulated, and grounded — especially during uncertain times. You can explore my 1:1 support or access any and all of my free resources.

Always,
Betsy