Feeling Small in a World of Big Problems

I am sitting in front of my screen, my eyes glued to another climate desaster, another outbreak of war, another humanitarian catastrophe and I get lost in the stream of overwhelming news. And there it is again – that crushing feeling of insignificance.

You know the feeling, don't you?

It's that moment when you realize the sheer magnitude of our world's problems compared to your own capacity to affect change. Climate change, wars, poverty, social injustice – the list seems endless, while our individual influence feels microscopic.

"When you consider things like the stars, our affairs don't seem to matter very much, do they?" – Virginia Woolf

But here's the thing: This feeling of insignificance isn't a weakness – it's a sign of awareness. It means we understand the scope of what we're dealing with. And surprisingly, this very feeling might be our greatest asset in creating change.

Let me explain why.

The Paralysis of Being "Too Small"

Our brains aren't wired to comprehend the true scale of global problems. When we hear that billions of people live in poverty or that we need to reduce carbon emissions by millions of tons, these numbers become abstract concepts. Our internal "care-o-meter," as some might call it, simply doesn't go that high.

This cognitive limitation often leads to one of two reactions:

1. Complete paralysis - "I'm too small to make a difference"
2. Denial - "It can't be that bad"

Both reactions are natural, but neither helps us move forward.

The Power of Collective Insignificance

Here's where it gets interesting: We're all in this together. Every single person working on climate tech, social justice, or humanitarian aid feels small compared to the challenges they're tackling. But collectively, these "insignificant" contributions are moving mountains.

Think about it:

• A designer making sustainable choices in their projects
• A project manager choosing green hosting solutions
• A single developer optimizing code to be more energy-efficient

None of these actions alone will save the world. But together? They're creating a wave of change that's becoming impossible to ignore.

"Everyone has more power than they think they do. And the question is: What are you going to do with this power? You can make change happen or you can ignore it. But if you make change happen, that is on you!" – Seth Godin

Turning Insignificance into Action

So how do we move forward? Here's what I've learned:

1. Embrace the feeling: Your sense of insignificance is actually a realistic assessment of the situation. Use it as a compass pointing toward what matters.
2. Focus on your sphere of influence: You can't solve climate change, but you can make your next project carbon-neutral. Start there.
3. Connect with others: Find people who feel the same way. Together, our "insignificant" actions multiply.
4. Celebrate small wins: Every sustainable choice, every optimized website, every tiny improvement matters – because they all add up.

The Boat We Share

We're all in this together – literally. We share this planet, its resources, and its future. Our individual feelings of insignificance actually unite us in a powerful way. They remind us that we need each other to create meaningful change.

When I now turn my gaze away from the screen and perceive the surroundings again, I see things differently. Yes, I'm small. Yes, the problems are enormous. But I'm not alone in this boat. There are millions of us, each doing our small part, each feeling insignificant yet continuing to act anyway.

And maybe that's exactly what we need – not heroes who can solve everything, but millions of people who, despite feeling small, choose to act anyway.

What's your next small step going to be?

Let's talk about it.