Have We Lost the Confidence to Wish for More?
I've been sitting with this question since I read a New York Times piece by David Brooks. He says:
“It's almost as if people have been so beaten down by the last decade, they've lost the self-confidence to wish for more.”
The words hit home. In my conversations with purpose-driven leaders across sectors, I hear a common thread—a deep weariness that goes beyond physical exhaustion. These are passionate people who entered their work ready to create change. Now they're running on empty, questioning whether transformation is possible.
In a country built on determination and bold dreams, where we tell our children they can be anything, where we pride ourselves on fierce independence, have we stopped believing in the dreams for ourselves?
Have we truly lost the self-confidence to wish for more?
Hidden Patterns of Depletion
What I'm seeing goes beyond Brooks' "pessimism bubble." I see something more nuanced: talented individuals who no longer trust their ability to make an impact. People who once believed in the power of collective action but now feel constrained by systems, limited by resources, worn down by resistance.
Behind every policy, deadline, and budget constraint are people. People who can choose differently. In the sectors we serve - nonprofit, government, education, social services - we've unconsciously embraced a culture of scarcity. We speak of limitations as if they're wisdom. We wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. When someone dreams big, we whisper "be realistic" - our code for "be smaller."
These patterns show up everywhere: in midnight emails, in proud declarations of sleepless nights, in subtle eye rolls when someone suggests a bold new idea. We've convinced ourselves that passion is naive and dreams are distractions from "real work."
While writing this, I found myself thinking: Who benefits if passionate, purpose-driven changemakers are worn down?
The Human Heart of Systems Change
Want to know what really keeps me up at night? Some of us may actually believe it. We're passing down these patterns like they're worthwhile, forgetting something crucial: Systems aren't abstract entities - they're made of people. People who wake up each morning with the power to choose differently.
Every policy can be rewritten. Every deadline can be renegotiated. Every budget reflects someone's priorities. When we remember this fundamental truth - that humans create and sustain these systems - we reclaim our power to imagine something better.
Reclaiming Our Confidence to Wish for More
Possibility isn't some luxury we can't afford. It's not naive optimism or wishful thinking. It's a practice of gentle persistence. It's choosing to see beyond current limitations while staying grounded in reality. It's taking micro steps forward when every system suggests we stay still.
It is up to us.
As Maya Angelou reminds us in A Brave and Startling Truth:
“We must confess that we are the possible. We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world.”
Practicing Possibility
When we feel stuck, small shifts in perspective can reignite momentum:
Instead of focusing on barriers, explore what's within reach.
Rather than assuming what won't work, experiment with what might.
Move from "I can't" to "What's possible here?"
Remember that behind every "no" is a person who could say "yes"
Possibility isn’t about ignoring constraints—it’s about refusing to let them be the whole story. Take one step. Test one idea. Have one conversation. This is how we rebuild our confidence and energy, one choice at a time.
Your Invitation to More
Your challenge today: Choose one area where you feel stuck. Now ask yourself—what’s one small action that moves you forward? Not the whole solution, just the next right step. Who are the people behind the systems you're navigating? How might you engage them in imagining something better?
The ability to imagine better possibilities isn't a luxury. It's the fuel that drives meaningful change. And it's yours to reclaim.
If you're seeing this kind of weariness or resignation in your work, let's talk about how it's showing up.
Want to do something to shift that? I'm here to help you rediscover what's possible.
What's your next step?
