In the wake of a devastating event—whether it’s a flood, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, or earthquake—the impact doesn’t end when the skies clear. The physical damage may be visible, but the emotional and psychological reverberations often continue for weeks, months, or even years. The recent Central Texas flooding brought this truth into sharp focus. Beyond the destruction of homes and landscapes, there’s a deeper, more invisible toll: the emotional weight carried by survivors, responders, and entire communities. The Layered Impact of Natural Disasters Disasters create a multi-dimensional aftermath: Physical destruction and displacement Loss of life, safety, and normalcy Increased vulnerability and trauma Environmental shifts and health risks And still—those are just the visible layers. What often goes unseen is the grief, shock, confusion, and personal disorientation experienced by those living through it. No “Right” Way to Respond In the aftermath, people process tragedy in differ...

  Have you ever had the sense that there was something bigger meant for you? Some unique impact you were intended to have while living this life? That quiet pull—toward meaning, contribution, and connection—can be what helps us weather the darkest seasons. It’s the sense that maybe all of this isn’t meaningless… maybe we can use it as the foundation for something deeper to emerge. That belief is what helped Viktor Frankl survive his time in concentration camps, as he describes in Man’s Search for Meaning . It’s the driving force behind ikigai , the Japanese concept of a “reason for being,” and it parallels what Buddhism calls Dharma —one’s sacred duty or righteous path. This isn’t a concept exclusive to one culture or belief system. It’s a thread that runs through many traditions, philosophies, and lived experiences. Whatever name you give it, purpose gives your life circumstances a bigger context. Rather than simply being about hardship, adversity can become part of a path to impa...