Feeling responsible for what you can’t control is pointless labor that no one asked for, like drinking poison and hoping your ebbing strength will magically be given to those in need.
And yet, it’s hard to get a grounded sense of how much responsibility one *ought* to feel towards the world. Seems like if everyone held too little *or* if everyone held too much, that would be very bad, but I cannot locate any simple principle for how much is the right amount. (Maybe this boils down to: if we don’t all take more responsibility than we can healthily hold, how do we solve coordination and collective action problems?)
I stumbled upon this piece due to David Chapman sharing it and I couldn’t be grateful.
Thank you so much for giving a word to what I see has driven a loved one to deep anxiety. It also clarifies where I place my energy and why.
Hear, hear!
And yet, it’s hard to get a grounded sense of how much responsibility one *ought* to feel towards the world. Seems like if everyone held too little *or* if everyone held too much, that would be very bad, but I cannot locate any simple principle for how much is the right amount. (Maybe this boils down to: if we don’t all take more responsibility than we can healthily hold, how do we solve coordination and collective action problems?)
Thanks, Holly ❤️