When the World Feels Scary, Make Yourself Small

acceptance is where peace begins

Some of us went to bed last night with hope in our hearts, only to wake up feeling devastated. Others stayed up all night, wrestling with fear and uncertainty, and are still in that space now.

There are people out there celebrating today, and to be honest, this isn’t for you. It’s not that I don’t love you—but let’s be real, the winning side doesn’t need comfort.

To those of you feeling heartbroken, confused, or even fearful, I want to acknowledge something important: your grief is real, even if it feels strange or “silly” to name it as such. Grief doesn’t always mean losing a person. Sometimes it’s the loss of hope, or the realization that control was always an illusion. Whatever you’re feeling today, it’s valid, and you don’t have to brush it aside.

There is something, however, that we all need to remember—especially those of us struggling. Acceptance is the final step on this journey. It’s the place we must eventually land. Between now and that moment, there will be a range of emotions to work through—anger, sadness, disbelief—and it’s okay to take your time with each one. That process isn’t just allowed; it’s necessary.

I’m not suggesting that you rush toward acceptance, but it helps to know that’s where peace is waiting.

Someone I love deeply has been teaching me something that is helping me reclaim my own peace. When everything feels overwhelming, when the weight of it all is pressing in, it helps to make yourself small. For me, that looks like stepping outside, walking among the trees, or sitting by the water—letting the vastness of nature remind me that I am part of something so much larger.

I imagine the universe stretching endlessly around us, and I realize that while today’s struggles feel enormous, they’re just one wave in an ocean of countless others, each rising and falling in its own time.

We can no more control societal change than we can control the tides. Accepting this truth and releasing the need for control brings serenity.

The truth is, this is all so much bigger than us. No single person or election can unravel everything. Society will always wrestle with these tensions, moving forward in fits and starts. Sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back—a dance as old as humanity itself.

I know this feels raw. I know it stings. I know the weight of these feelings. But even through all of this, it’s crucial to remember—there is hope.

There will always be hope.

It may be difficult to see right now, in the middle of the mess, and that’s okay. Hold space for your fear. Be gentle with yourself. Take the time you need to let it all breathe.

Then, when you’re ready, try stepping back and widening your lens. Let yourself become small, and look closely at where your control truly ends.

When you can see that boundary and fully accept it, I promise—that’s where healing begins.

Hang in there, friends.

I love y’all.

Dear readers,

Writing is my livelihood, and it means the world to me that you’re here. I will always keep my writing paywall free, because I don’t feel like there should be a barrier for receiving encouragement. But for those who choose the paid support option, thank you for keeping my lights on.

Not just in my little house, but inside my heart, as well.

Love,

Mary Katherine