it's your 'hood

We live in a world that is fractured, divided, and drowning in crisis. From global pandemics to war, from economic inequality to environmental collapse, from political corruption to social unrest - everywhere we look, there is suffering, chaos, and injustice. It’s easy to point fingers, to lay blame on politicians, corporations, foreign governments, or nameless “others.” And yet the brutal truth is: we are all responsible for the world as it exists today.

It is time to take 100% responsibility. Not just for our personal lives, for the collective state of the world as well. Whilst it’s uncomfortable to admit that we have all, in some way, contributed to the poor shape of humanity today, until we face this truth head-on, nothing will change.

Many people love to say, “I’m just one person. I have nothing to do with global issues.” All this is, is a convenient excuse to absolve ourselves of responsibility. We are not isolated beings living in a vacuum. Every choice we make, every action we take, every word we speak (or don’t speak) contributes to the collective energy of the planet.

Every time we remain silent about injustice because it does not directly affect us, we are complicit. Every time we prioritise personal convenience over ethical responsibility, we are complicit. Every time we turn away because we find it too painful to witness the suffering of others, we are complicit.

As challenging as it is to hear, the state of the world is not separate from us - it is a reflection of us.

Take climate change for example. The Earth is literally on fire, and yet we continue to act as if climate change is someone else’s problem. Corporations pollute because we fund them. Governments ignore sustainability because we fail to demand action. Ecosystems collapse because we choose convenience over conservation.

Every plastic bottle you throw away, every unnecessary purchase you make, every flight you take when alternatives exist - these are not harmless choices. They are direct contributions to the destruction of our planet.

We cannot claim to care about future generations while actively creating a world that is unlivable for them.

And then there's war, conflict and our passive participation. The wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and countless other places are not just distant tragedies. They are reflections of the violence, division, and hatred that we allow to fester in our own communities, in our own 'hood.

How often have you looked at these conflicts and simply thought, “That’s awful,” before scrolling past to check the latest celebrity gossip? How often have you actually taken the time to understand the history, the complexities, and the real human suffering involved? How often have you actively pressured your government to stop funding destruction and start prioritising peace?

Silence is complicity. Apathy is complicity. Choosing ignorance is complicity.

And, finally, touching on most recent events that are being felt throughout the world with choices and decisions being made that are impacting the countries you and I live in, even if we aren't residents of the country in direct question, what about the role of American leadership and, even more importantly, our role in creating it?

The United States holds immense influence in the world. Its policies, leadership, and economic power shape global events. Yet, look at the current state of American politics: division, corruption, dysfunction, and a dangerous rise in extremism.

Who put these leaders in power? Who allows them to continue their destructive agendas? We do - every citizen who votes based on party loyalty rather than integrity, every person who refuses to participate in democracy because they believe “their vote doesn’t matter", every individual who allows misinformation to dictate their beliefs.

We are responsible for the leaders we elect. And if they are failing us, it is because we have failed ourselves first.

Sadly, most people only care about issues when they directly impact their lives. If petrol and diesel prices rise, they pay attention. If their healthcare costs increase, they get angry. If their personal freedoms are threatened, they fight back.

What about the people whose lives are already in ruins, though? The families in war zones? The children dying of hunger? The communities being destroyed by climate disasters? Why do we wait until suffering reaches our doorstep before we acknowledge its existence?

Taking 100% responsibility means expanding our awareness. It means caring about issues that do not personally inconvenience us. It means recognising that as long as suffering exists anywhere, we are all responsible for creating it and therefore we are responsible for eradicating it.

Understanding your role in the world’s problems is not about drowning in guilt - it’s about reclaiming your power to create change. For example, choose to educate yourself about global issues and seek out diverse perspectives, use your voice to challenge injustices rather than remaining silent because it's easier, vote and vote wisely - do your research - and then hold politicians accountable to their promises, understand the brands you buy from and their ethics and make choices to continue or stop supporting them, reduce waste, make sustainable choices, support ethical and small businesses... and much more.

The hard truth is that no-one is coming to save us. There is no hero, no politician, no movement that will single-handedly fix the world. You and I are the ones we have been waiting for. Every action matters. Every choice has a ripple effect. The question is, will your ripples contribute towards healing or destruction?

The world is broken, however it is not beyond repair. The power to change it lies within each and every one of us - if we are willing to take 100% responsibility for the world we have created.

Are you ready to do your part?

Look, I get it - there’s so much wrong in the world, so much destruction already done, that it feels overwhelming. Where do you even start?

Unfortunately, too many people let that overwhelm paralyse them. They hide behind the excuse of not knowing where to begin, use the “it’s too big for me to change” mindset as a crutch, and retreat into apathy. It’s easier to return to pointing fingers, to blaming governments, corporations, and other people, than to take personal responsibility. It’s easier to sink into distraction and comfort than to face the uncomfortable truth: you are the problem.

No, you can’t single-handedly reverse climate change and you may not have the power to dictate who leads a nation or force peace talks between warring countries. However, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. That doesn’t mean you get a free pass to do nothing. Like it or not, you (like me) have shaped the world as it is today. And if you helped create this mess, you also have the power to help un-create it.