Unsteady Ground: Navigating Uncertainty in a World That Feels Fragile

By Kimberly Lorah – Divorce Coach, Mother, and Rebuilder of New Beginnings

On September 3, 2001, I gave birth to my first child—a beautiful baby boy. He was tiny and perfect and everything in my world shifted.

Eight days later, the world shifted again—this time on a much larger scale.

On September 11, the Twin Towers fell. I remember sitting in my living room in northern New Jersey, rocking my newborn, watching smoke rise in the distance and wondering:
What kind of world did I just bring him into?
How do I raise a child in a place that suddenly doesn’t feel safe anymore?

That moment—etched into my memory—was my a brutal reminder of living in uncertainty and  being vulnerable in a world that no longer felt predictable.

It was not the only time I have felt this way.

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Divorce: A Different Kind of Disaster

Years later, during my divorce in 2016, I felt echoes of that same fear.

No breaking news coverage. No headlines. But emotionally, it was an earthquake.
The ground beneath me cracked open.
I didn’t know who I was anymore.
I didn’t know how to protect my children, or rebuild our future, or even where to begin.

Just like 9/11 shook the nation’s sense of security, divorce shook mine. It called everything into question: my identity, my worth, my relationships, my safety.

And just like those uncertain days in September if 2001, I found myself once again asking:
“How do I move forward when I don’t even recognize my life anymore?”

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Global Events, Familiar Emotions

That worldwide uncertainty has resurfaced again for many of us in 2025.

Just last week, U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran responded with missile attacks. The Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of the world’s oil flows—is under threat. Experts are warning of inflation, energy crises, and potential war.

The world feels fragile.
The future feels blurry.
And that same haunting feeling creeps in:
“Am I safe? What comes next?”

If you’re in the midst of a divorce—or any major transition—you’re likely already living with these questions. Global tension simply mirrors what you’re carrying privately.

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COVID Taught Us This, Too

We’ve been here before.

The COVID-19 pandemic thrust us all into uncertainty. Overnight, life stopped making sense.
We lost routines, social connection, celebrations, jobs, and loved ones.
We feared each breath, each surface, each day.

And in the silence of lockdowns, the same questions played on repeat:

• How long will this last?
• Will life ever feel normal again?
• What if I can’t handle this?

That’s the thing about fear and change: whether it’s a terrorist attack, a virus, a war, or a divorce—uncertainty speaks the same language.

And our nervous systems respond the same way: with survival mode, overwhelm, and the desperate need to find something to hold onto.

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Divorce Is a Crisis Without Sirens

It may not come with sirens or statistics—but divorce often feels just as disruptive as these global events.

You don’t know who you’ll be on the other side.
You lose what felt stable.
You grieve a life that’s no longer yours.
And most days, you’re expected to keep functioning like everything’s fine.

If you’re in this space right now, know this:

➡️ It makes sense that you’re exhausted.
➡️ It makes sense that your emotions are all over the place.
➡️ It makes sense that you’re craving clarity, control, and a moment to just catch your breath.

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🌿 How to Steady Yourself When the World Feels Unsteady

Whether the uncertainty is personal or global—or both—here are gentle, powerful ways to ground yourself:

1. Name What’s True

Write it down. Say it out loud. Acknowledge it.
“This is hard. I feel scared. I don’t know what comes next.”
Truth is grounding.

2. Focus on the Controllable

You can’t control court dates, global headlines, or other people’s actions.
But you can choose your next meal, your morning rhythm, or when you go for a walk.
Small choices = steady footing.

3. Create Anchors

A favorite mug. A calming playlist. A 5-minute meditation.
Your anchors don’t need to be fancy—they just need to be yours.

4. Turn Down the Noise

Limit how much news or social media you consume.
Set boundaries. Give your brain a break from constant input.

5. Connect with Safe People

Text someone. Call a friend. Join a support group.
You’re not meant to carry all of this alone.

6. Remember What You’ve Already Survived

You’ve lived through 9/11.
You’ve lived through a global pandemic.
You’ve faced heartbreak, grief, fear, and deep change.
You’re still here.
And that means you’re more resilient than you know.

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✨ You Are the Anchor

When I held my son just before the towers fell, I didn’t know what the world would become.
When I signed my divorce papers, I didn’t know who I would become.
And even now—none of us really know what comes next.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need all the answers to move forward.
You don’t need certainty to create calm.
You don’t need to feel strong to be strong.

You just need one next step. One breath. One moment of courage.

In times of uncertainty, you don’t have to find the anchor—you can become it.

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💛 You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

If you’re walking through a season of fear, change, or heartbreak, I’d love to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a free 30-minute clarity call
👉 Join my next divorce recovery workshop
👉 Follow along on Instagram for daily tools, truths, and reminders that you are not alone

You’ve made it through before.
And you can again.