the world outside of us.

We don’t exist in a vacuum. The planet we live on, the natural environment we live in, broader society, our social status, financial status and work environment profoundly affects our wellbeing and how we see ourselves. Think about it, if we live in a tundra in Asia as part of a small community, our lives and sense of self will be profoundly different than if we lived in a bustling, large city in the tropics. As we get further into our own experience, when we consider whether we live in a democracy or other political landscape and whether we are poor or otherwise, our experience in the world diverges further into our own unique set of circumstances. When I worked in community substance use and mental health organizations, it was extraordinarily difficult to make progress in therapy if a client didn’t have secure food or housing. My job was then to connect these folks to resources, when available, so they can improve their material conditions. How do these things impact people? If a person was unhoused, they would frequently struggle to get sleep, which would cause difficulty functioning. What does that mean for us then? Consider how your environment, social circle and other conditions impact your life. If you feel like you need to make change, think carefully about what change you would like to make and make an actionable, safe plan to implement the change. Part of a therapist’s role in someone’s care is to help facilitate this process. Bring it up to your therapist. Engage them or other outside perspectives to ensure you have the best plan moving forward.