A portrait of everyday resilience for those who feel unsure what to do or say next

& a simple exercise

Aug 29, 2025

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”― Vincent Van Gogh

If you feel unsure how to respond to the onslaught of injustice right now, you’re not alone. If you’re a writer/human who wonders whether your work matters or how to make it matter in an age of AI, you are not alone.

If you are simply at a loss about how to best contribute good work to the world, please take a few minutes to grab a notebook and pen. I promise, this will be worth your time.

I learned this exercise from a fellow teacher at Insight Timer, and I’ve since shared it with wayward writers, leadership students who are trying to figure out what they want to do in the world, and friends who are decent people at a loss.

Instructions: Draw a Venn diagram that’s large enough you can write in each section. Write what causes you the most heartache (it can feel difficult to pick one lately, but pick the one that really nags) on the left side and write what you consider your greatest gift on the right side (this could be empathy, cooking, writing, teaching, anything).

In the middle, where there is overlap … this is the work that is currently calling to you.

Repeat this the next time you are outraged and do not know what to do. Repeat it for your next creative project. Repeat it to remember that you cannot do everything at once, and you do not have to. There is one thing you can offer. And the world needs you to do that right now.

If you do this exercise, I’d love to know what comes up for you in the comments below. Contrary to the illusion, there are more good people in the world than not. We just have to figure out a way to all do our part.

Wishing you all good things.