Bonus: When You’re Feeling the Weight of the World: Government Shutdown Reflections and Hope

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Feeling overwhelmed by the news, politics, or the state of the world? You’re not alone. In this bonus episode, MaryAnn Walker dives into how empaths and highly sensitive people can stay grounded during times of uncertainty — like the current U.S. government shutdown — without shutting down emotionally. She shares practical strategies for transforming overwhelm into hope and meaningful action.

Whether you’re stressed about finances, worried about loved ones, or simply drained by constant headlines, this episode provides tools to help you regain clarity, calm, and control.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How highly sensitive people experience macro vs micro stress during crises
• Techniques to reduce overwhelm while staying empathetic
• Practical ways to take small, meaningful actions that help both yourself and others
• How serving your community can regulate your emotions and restore hope
• Why staying centered in your values is more powerful than trying to fix everything

Challenge for the Week
Ask yourself: what is the one thing weighing heaviest on me right now? Choose one small, compassionate action that can lighten that burden — whether it’s donating to a local food pantry, reaching out to a friend, or simply taking a mindful pause for yourself.

Work With Me
If you’re an empath or highly sensitive person struggling to stay grounded in overwhelming times, I can help you find clarity, calm, and emotional resilience. Email me at [e-mail] or click here to get started. https://maryannwalker.life/contact-me

If you have been impacted by the shutdown, reach out. I have deferred billing and scholarships that can help. Want to contribute? Venmo me or add a few bucks to my digital tip jar!

Venmo: @MaryAnn-Walker-Life, Digital Tip Jar: https://maryannwalker-life.kit.com/products/tip-jar

Don’t Forget to Subscribe
If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes on emotional regulation, empath self-care, and navigating life as a highly sensitive person.

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Well, hello and welcome back.
Today is a bonus episode.
I have some things to say that Ijust don't think can wait, and
so I am recording here on aSunday morning, and I plan to
push this out later todaybecause there's a lot that's on
my mind right now, and I'massuming there's probably a lot
on your mind as well Now.
First, I do want to acknowledgethat yes, I have some big
feelings I'm going to be sharingtoday.

(00:21):
And also by way of a triggerwarning, I am going to be
talking a little bit about thecurrent political climate and I
just wanna get that outta theway.
So if you are currently in aposition where hearing anything
about politics is toooverwhelming for you, I know I
work with a lot of empaths andhighly sensitive people and that
can be hard.
So if you need to skip thisepisode, I 100% understand it's

(00:42):
totally okay.
I do intend to end on a hopefulnote, but I wanted to give you
an opportunity to opt in or optout depending on where you are
currently emotionally at andwherever you're at that's okay.
Okay.
I'm not offended if you need toskip.
There are many people strugglingin the US right now, and since I
have a decent number oflisteners outside of the US I'm

(01:03):
going to give a very briefrundown.
Of course, there's so manythings I could be talking about.
I'm only gonna be talking abouta few, but here's a very brief
rundown.
Currently the US government isshut down, meaning that a budget
has not yet been passed, andthat means that currently there
are approximately 670,000federal employees that are

(01:23):
furloughed.
That means they're not goinginto work and they're not
getting paid, and they won't befor the foreseeable future.
Additionally, there are 730,000federal employees that are
currently being asked to work,but they're not receiving pay.
And while historically theseemployees have received back pay
once the government's up andrunning again, when asked about

(01:45):
it, then leadership has said,well, it depends on who we're
talking about as to if they'regoing to receive back pay or
not.
And that's creating a lot offear and uncertainty.
As an extension of thisshutdown, many people are
experiencing food insecurity.
Not only the federally employedfamilies that are not currently
receiving a paycheck, but alsothose who are on SNAP benefits

(02:07):
and receiving supplementalnutrition from the government.
Never before has anyadministration withheld funds
from this program, not evenduring a shutdown.
So everything that we'recurrently experiencing right now
is unprecedented.
And as you know, I work with thehighly sensitive people and the
empaths, and this population isbeing very significantly

(02:29):
impacted right now.
Even if it doesn't impact themdirectly, they feel the weight
of it.
This last September I attended awomen's retreat.
And honestly, for me it wasperfect timing to go because I
do get sucked into the news.
I do get overwhelmed, and forme, the most healing part was
just being unplugged for a fewdays.

(02:50):
And while I was at this retreat,I was talking with somebody and
I was telling them how much I'vejust been thoroughly enjoying
having one-on-one conversationswith people being unplugged.
How amazing that's been for me.
And she made the comment that,yeah, I've really been enjoying
these one-on-one conversationstoo.
And also they're just making meso tired.
And that kind of led into aconversation where we were

(03:12):
talking about the macro and themicro experience, that right now
we're experiencing so manythings on the macro level.
We're experiencing so manythings as a country, so many
things as a world that that canfeel so overwhelming and how
that really changes and shiftsour micro experience.
And so, yeah, of course you'regonna be tired when you're still

(03:33):
trying to process everythingthat's happening on the macro
level, especially if you're anempath and you're feeling it in
your body.
And it's gonna shift how youengage in your one-on-one
conversations.
It's so interesting how thosecontribute to each other.
So on the macro level here inthe United States, we are
experiencing more division thanI've ever seen before in my
life.
There is so much othering thatis happening right now, and it

(03:55):
seems like everybody is lookingfor somebody to blame.
So whether it's Republicans,Democrats, remote workers,
federal employees, members ofthe LGBTQ plus community or the
immigrant community, we'reseeing so much division right
now and so much blaming.
So.
I'll be honest with you, as Ilistened to the episode that
dropped this last Thursday onanger, it was a really

(04:15):
interesting experience for mebecause I, to be honest, I
recorded that episode monthsago.
I had been recording a bunch ofepisodes to get them all
scheduled out because I wasplanning to have surgery.
The surgery didn't happen.
I ended up having COVID instead.
So that's been rescheduled forJanuary.
But I had recorded this episodeat a different time on anger,

(04:35):
and honestly, as I was listeningto it, I thought, oh, it sounds
a little outta touch.
People have a lot to be angryabout right now.
People are hungry right now.
They're experiencing fear anduncertainty and that's
definitely going to beimpacting, um, not only their
experience with anger, fear,insecurity, but it's gonna be
impacting how it is that I wannatalk about those things.
So yeah, I do still plan to droppart two on Thursday, but I

(04:57):
really wanted to create thisepisode to just kind of address
that, that people are reallyexperiencing a lot right now.
So backing up a tiny bit to thisconversation that I was having
with this new friend of mine, aswe were talking about the macro
experience that we're all havingas a collective, she shared with
me a little bit about her microexperience.

(05:18):
She has a daughter who isattending UVU, and that is the
college where Charlie Kirk waskilled.
And while her daughter was notat the event, she had friends
who were.
And their individual experienceshonestly, they sounded
terrifying.
And I will not be sharing themhere out of respect for those
families.
But I will share one thing thatreally stood out to me.

(05:41):
For those of us that werewatching all this happen on the
news, we all knew it was in thebeginning headline that one shot
was fired, right?
One shot fired.
But those that were inattendance, they had no idea how
many shots would be fired or whothe intended target was.
They were scared, and honestly,rightly so.
Because here in the US we'recurrently experiencing more than

(06:02):
one mass shooting per day.
In fact, as of today, November2nd, there have been 359 mass
shootings in 2025 here in theUS.
So their fear is very real.
It's very valid.
And so there's the fear and theexperience of everybody that was
there at the event, and theirfear and experience is very

(06:24):
valid.
And then there was theexperience of my friend's
daughter who was experiencingsecondhand trauma, hearing about
her friend's experience.
And then that trickles down tomom, where now mom is also
feeling traumatized, hearingabout her daughter's friend's
experiences.
It really seems to have this bigtrickle down effect.
So there's a significant amountof emotion going on right now.

(06:45):
Um, many things that arehappening, and not only are all
of these big things happening atthe global level, but when you
add into that food insecurity,that adds a whole new layer when
it comes to processing emotion.
So why do I bring all of thisup?
Because as I said on Thursday'sepisode, yeah.
Emotions are here to teach us.
They're here to move us intoaction.

(07:07):
And also as a collective, we'reprocessing a lot right now on
the macro and the micro level.
And the empaths and the highlysensitive people, they are
really, really feeling it.
And depending on what theirvolume is currently tuned into
at the moment, right?
Whether it's something on themacro or the micro level,
whatever it is that you're tunedinto right now, whatever's the

(07:28):
loudest for you, that's going tobe impacting how it is that you
choose to navigate thatexperience.
For example, if right now themacro experience is what's
loudest for you and your mainconcerns are around public
safety, fairness, caring foryour community, you'll be
navigating those things a lotdifferently than if your main
focus is something personal onthe micro level, like food

(07:48):
insecurity or not knowing whenyour next paycheck will come.
So sit for a moment and askyourself, what's weighing most
on me right now?
And once you've identified that,ask yourself, okay, what is one
thing that I could do right nowto make it a little bit lighter?
Maybe it's reaching out to talkwith a friend.

(08:09):
Maybe it's taking a social mediabreak.
Maybe it's helping somebody inneed, but pick one small act and
it's amazing to see how thesesmall things really can create
significant shift.
So here in my own town, I havebeen so inspired by how people
have been choosing to show up.
Porch pantries are popping up.
People that have had thoselittle mini libraries in their

(08:31):
front yards, they're taking thebooks out and they're putting
canned food in so that they canhelp their neighbors.
Several of the local restaurantsare offering free meals to
families that are impacted bythis shutdown.
People are actively looking forsmall ways that they can
contribute, and it's a beautifulthing to witness.
And today, that's what I want toencourage you to do is, yes, it

(08:54):
is so overwhelming to seeeverything that's going on right
now, and honestly, it's becauseI know how overwhelming it can
be.
That's why I haven't talked muchabout politics on here.
I know that I often need a safeplace to talk about things that
Aren't politics because it canbe so all consuming.
But I think it's time that Istart to speak up more about

(09:14):
this and not to just raise morenoise or to blame, but to remind
us that no matter where it isthat we fall politically, most
of us want the same thing.
We're all seeking to have safetyand stability and a sense of
community and belonging.
I have learned that for me, whenI'm feeling overwhelmed by all
the things that are going on inthe world, then one thing that

(09:35):
really helps me is shifting myfocus to a micro experience.
So when I'm experiencing theweight of the macro, that can be
so overwhelming.
And of course I'm gonna feellike things are out of my
control because they are.
But shifting it to somethingthat is in my control, by
bringing it back to a littlemicro experience, then it really
helps to shift things for me.

(09:55):
So this might be something assimple as being fully present
with somebody as they're sharingtheir pain and helping them to
feel a little bit lighter.
Maybe it's making a donation toyour local food pantry and that
can help you to feel like you'remaking a difference.
Maybe it's inviting a familyover for dinner who isn't sure
when their SNAP benefits willrenew.
That can help to createcommunity and connection, and
also help to fill a very realneed.

(10:18):
This last week I was exchangingMarco Polos with a friend of
mine, someone whose family isalso federally employed, and she
was laying in bed and crying asshe was expressing overwhelm as
she was looking into differentloan options as she's facing the
uncertainty as to when they willbe paid.
Because the truth is thatstretching funds is one thing,
but stretching them when youhave no idea how far it is that

(10:40):
they need to stretch.
That's another fear entirely.
And as I listened, then Irecognized that, boy, it does
feel like a lot, like this canfeel like a lot because I don't
know what to say in thatsituation.
I don't know how to help her.
I can listen, but I can'tpersonally change her financial
situation.
So yeah, it can feel like a lot.

(11:00):
And honestly, I felt a littlebit helpless in that
conversation.
So I listened and I loved, andwhen we were done talking, she
said, you know what?
Just having somebody just bewith me and listen has helped me
to feel so much better.
Thank you.
And hearing that also helped meto feel a little bit better.
So what I want to encourage youto do today is if you're feeling

(11:24):
overwhelmed, I want you to seeif you can identify one small
thing that you could do thatmight have a positive impact on
the world, and then do it.
Serving other people really canbe an amazing way to regulate
your own emotions.
It helps us to shift from fearand overwhelm into love and hope

(11:45):
because we're actually helpingto create that love and hope and
create that change.
My husband is one of those whois federally employed, meaning
that he hasn't received apaycheck in nearly a month now.
And don't worry, we're doingokay.
And also I know that noteveryone is.
And yes, more than likely wewill all get back pay, but

(12:08):
groceries cannot be bought on apromissory note, and mortgages
can't be paid, and that createsa lot of fear and uncertainty
for many people right now, andthat fear and uncertainty that
people are experiencing on themicro level, it does make it a
lot harder to navigate that fearand uncertainty that we're all
experiencing.
On the macro level.
It makes it a lot harder toprocess what's happening

(12:30):
globally, and as I've beenthinking about what it is that I
could do personally, then thisis what I've come up with.
If you have been hurt by theshutdown, I want to help.
So come and work with me, and Iwill not send you an invoice
until the government is up andrunning again.
And at that point, if we havereceived back pay, great.

(12:52):
I'll send you the invoice.
If we, for whatever reason, donot receive back pay, you will
not receive an invoice.
You can just consider it my giftto you.
So I am currently expanding myavailability so that I can help
more people.
So come and work with me.
Also, I am still acceptingregular paying clients as well,
and so if you've been waitingfor a nudge from the universe
thinking, well, I don't know,I'm kind of thinking about

(13:14):
coaching, consider this yournudge and come and work with me.
Also, if you feel compelled tomake a donation to sponsor
somebody else, or if you justwanna add a couple of bucks to
my tip jar because you enjoy thecontent that you're seeing here,
then I do have a link in theshow notes for both my Venmo as
well as to my digital tip jar.
So come and make a donation.
It'll help me to do even moregood here in our local

(13:36):
community.
So you can email me [e-mail] to
apply to work with me.
Come to my website,www.maryannwalker.life.
But come and work with me.
Let me know what kind of supportyou're needing and let's start
working together.
When the world feelsoverwhelming and especially
during times of crisis, thenfocusing on small, tangible ways

(13:58):
to help other people.
It not only helps to support thecommunity, but it can also help
to soothe our own overwhelm.
We are all in this together, solet's do some good.
Reach out.
If you'd like support, you don'thave to face this alone.
I love you guys and I'll see youon Thursday.
Bye now.