From Doomscrolling to Longpath: How to Find Hope, Purpose, and Agency in Uncertain Times

Why thinking like a great ancestor is the antidote to anxiety—and how to start today.

It’s easy to feel powerless in an age of crisis—a world where the next disaster is just a swipe away. But Ari Wallach’s ‘Longpath’ offers a radical, hopeful alternative: instead of shrinking from the future, we can become its shapers, one small act at a time.

Wallach argues that doomscrolling and anxiety are symptoms of a society trapped in short-termism. Our brains, wired for survival, focus on immediate threats and rewards. But by adopting a Longpath mindset, we can zoom out—connecting with ancestors, descendants, and the larger arc of human history. This shift transforms worry into agency, despair into meaning.

The book is rich with tools for building hope: gratitude rituals that rewire the brain for optimism; storytelling practices that anchor us in resilience; community rituals that remind us we’re not alone. Wallach draws on research showing that even small acts—like checking in on a friend or planting a tree—can have ripple effects that outlast our lifetimes.

Longpath isn’t about ignoring the world’s problems. It’s about facing them with courage, compassion, and creativity. By seeing ourselves as ancestors in the making, we reclaim our power to shape the future, even in the midst of uncertainty.

If you’re ready to break free from doomscrolling and rediscover purpose, start with a single act of kindness or a moment of gratitude. The Longpath begins today—and the future is waiting for you.