In today’s world, it’s easy to feel lost. Inflation is skyrocketing, housing costs are spiraling out of control, and we are still reeling from the aftermath of a global pandemic. We face an unrelenting drug epidemic, social media pressures, and an endless barrage of crises that make it feel like the world is stacked against us. There’s a deep sense of unfairness that hangs over our collective heads, leading many to question if life is as good as it used to be or whether it holds any hope for the future.
I’ve spent a lot of time studying history, both in my academic life and personal pursuits. My bachelor’s degree in history allowed me to reflect on countless eras of turmoil—wars, famines, political upheavals, and generational cycles of trauma. There have been times when the human spirit was pushed to its absolute limits, far beyond what many of us today might ever imagine. Despite all of this, one truth stands out: today’s crises are different and come with an opportunity that past generations couldn’t access.
For the first time in history, many of us have the resources and the collective awareness to focus on something deeper—our inner selves. Our ancestors often had to endure unimaginable hardships but had little space to process their pain. They worked to survive, providing for their families in the most basic ways, pushing through their days without the ability to reflect on what those days meant to them. But now, we are healing trauma that goes back generations—possibly all the way to the beginning of humanity itself.
This is a painful process. Healing hurts. It feels like a deep wound being scrubbed clean, and that pain can sometimes distract us from the fact that we are indeed healing. We often confuse this pain with the idea that the world is worse now than ever. But the truth is, we are healing wounds that have been festering for centuries—societal, familial, and personal. And for the first time in history, we are acknowledging that it’s okay to focus on ourselves. We are realizing that our value isn’t tied to productivity, status, or material possessions.
Yes, many of us may not be able to own homes like our parents or enjoy the financial security that previous generations enjoyed. But what we do have now is the understanding that it’s okay to be enough just as we are. We are the first generation with the freedom to tell ourselves it’s okay to just be. We have the space to focus on inner growth, work through our traumas, and prioritize mental health.
This may feel like an unfair trade-off, and sometimes it is. But this journey inward is part of a larger societal healing process. In healing ourselves, we’re also healing the trauma passed down through the generations. We are shifting the narrative from survival to growth. And while the process is slow and often painful, it is also beautiful.
So yes, it’s easy to feel lost in the crises of today. It’s easy to feel hopeless. But as we turn inward and work on our inner selves, we are actively participating in a healing process that is changing the course of history. We are the generation that gets to break the cycles of trauma. And that, even in a world filled with chaos, is something to hold onto.
By Contributor: Andrew Littlefield
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Call 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress. You can learn more about its services here, including its guide on what to do if you see suicidal language on social media. You can also call that number to talk to someone about how you can help a person in crisis. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
For support outside of the US, a worldwide directory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.
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If you or someone you love is living with substance use, alcohol misuse, a co-occurring, or a behavioral health disorder, there is hope. The Break Free Foundation aids individuals seeking recovery through the Break Free Scholarship Fund. It sends anyone who lacks the financial resources to attend a recovery center to do so at low to no cost.
Review our Treatment Locator Tool to find the right program near you, as well as our list of Hotlines and Helplines. Click here for a list of regional and national resources. On this road to recovery, no one is alone. We are all in this together.
