In this third episode of our Intentionality series, Nyssa and Kelly return to Murry Landsman’s handwritten bathroom poster to explore one deceptively simple slogan: “If you think you can do something about the world, you have a better chance.”

They unpack how this idea sits between toxic positivity and nihilism, framing it as “agency under constraint”—taking real responsibility for your participation in the world without pretending you can control everything. Along the way, they weave together stories of 90s eco‑kids trying to “save the planet,” Nyssa’s work helping clients heal through bodywork, Kelly’s reflections on Buddhism, karma, and projection, and why conflict is often the very thing that helps us evolve.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference without burning out, stay hopeful without spiritual bypassing, and see “the whole world as medicine,” this conversation is for you.

Main Topics Covered:

How one simple slogan—“If you think you can do something about the world, you have a better chance”—can change how you see your role in life.
The difference between toxic positivity, fantasy “manifestation,” and grounded, realistic hope.
What Kelly means by “agency under constraint” and how it helps you avoid both grandiosity and nihilism.
How 80s/90s “save the planet” messaging shaped Nyssa’s belief that her actions actually matter.
Why believing your work might help someone (in therapy, bodywork, or relationships) gives you a better chance that it will.
A playful dive into projective identification and how we unconsciously train people (and pets!) to act the way we expect.
The Buddhist idea that “the whole world is medicine” and what it means for everyday conflicts and challenges.
A wild pirate parable that reframes karma, intention, and “doing the least harm” in impossible situations.
How trying to change anything—yourself, a relationship, or the world—inevitably brings conflict, and why that’s often what helps us evolve.
Seeing intentionality as a uniquely human superpower in an age obsessed with AI, efficiency, and quick fixes.