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Question:   I have a friend who says he manages to stay cool calm and collected because he simply trusts the Universe.  I would like to have this unflappable approach to life but when I look around and see the injustice, the suffering, the cruelty, and the ignorance, I feel overwhelmed with sadness. It all seems so hopeless. How can I trust a Universe that doesn't share my values?

Answer:  What a great question. I am curious about your question, because it implies that you want to be more cool, calm and collected. This makes me wonder what you have against your own style of relating to the world. Do you have something against being affected by what goes on? Are you struggling with feeling hopeless and sad? You are obviously deeply touched by the cruelty, pain, and suffering that is occurring in our world – but perhaps you do not have enough inner and/or outer support to deal with the feelings this brings up in you.

I sense that you are a passionate, caring, sensitive individual and this is a difficult thing to be in a world full of insensitivity. I want to encourage your passion and interest and emotion around what is happening in the world. But I want to encourage you to also get support around the feelings this brings up in you. I have worked with many social activists over the years and they all struggle at times with feeling hopeless, angry, sad and powerless. And generally, they do become exhausted and depressed if they do not learn to support their emotional self.

I think it’s great your friend is so trusting. But it’s not right for everyone to simply trust that things will be okay. The world needs people who are ‘moved’ by what is happening in the world; people who question, challenge, feel and respond to what’s happening out there. In my opinion, your values are as much a part of the Universe as your friend’s values.

Answer provided by Michelle McClintock