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Sometimes it feels as though we carry the world on our shoulders. Our sense of responsibility reaches far beyond our real power. It resembles the fate of mythical Atlas: he holds up the vault of the heavens and cannot refuse the burden.

In such moments we feel: “If the world suffers, it’s our fault.” Guilt becomes total. But behind this pain hides not only suffering but also a fantasy of grandeur. After all, if we are to blame for everything, then we must be all-powerful. To give up this omnipotence is to admit our limits. And that is especially hard when we are exhausted. Sometimes the illusion of power, however false, feels like the last thing we have left.

This position has a flip side: vulnerability to manipulation. Our guilt turns into fuel that is easy to use:

• “If we don’t suffer for the whole people, we are traitors.”
• “If we loved our partner enough, he or she would be happy.”
• “Since we understand how deep the problems go, it is our duty to solve them.”

The more we try to atone for this guilt, the more we confirm our own “omnipotence.” The circle closes, and the weight of the world presses down even harder.

The way out lies in mindfulness. Responsibility is always proportionate to power. We cannot hold up the world, but we can carry our own part. Letting go of the illusion of omnipotence is not surrender but a return to reality. It is a step that frees us and makes us steadier.

The world does not rest on our shoulders, and other people’s happiness does not lie in our palms, whatever it may seem. But if we look more closely, we may find responsibility for our own life – and it is proportionate to our means.