At 19, inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love, Maggie Doyne used her babysitting savings to travel instead of going straight to college. Her journey took her to Nepal, where she adopted 50 children before turning 30, opened a school that educated hundreds more, launched programs for women, established health clinics, and was named CNN Hero of the Year.

Yet despite all she has built, at 38 she still struggles with despair about the state of the world. Seeking guidance, she wrote a heartfelt letter to Love, asking what to do when everything feels as if it’s falling apart. She later posted a video of herself reading Love’s reply, which Gilbert then shared in her newsletter, Letters from Love.

"What came through was a message that to me feels beyond simply hopeful," said Elizabeth. "It feels transcendent. I hope you will watch her video, and feel what I felt — the floating beauty and wild medicine of True Love. Let’s keep going."

Love said:

"Kid, let’s break it down for you real easy, so you can get it in one. There are only two possibilities here.

"Either the world is truly ending — in which case, why not choose to show up for the end of the world as the most loving and creative possible version of yourself, in order to help the most people and manifest the most beauty possible before it all crumbles? Why not?

"Or the world is not ending — in which case, why not choose to show up for the continuing of the world as the most loving and creative possible version of yourself, in order to help the most number of people and manifest the most beauty possible for as long as the world thrives?

"Do you see a choice here? We do not. We see only one path: the one of shining love and creation and engagement, no matter what."

"Your instructions are simple. Look for somebody to serve, look for something to love, and create something beautiful, no matter the apparent darkness."

"Start dreaming better. Right now. Change! Change! Change! Again! Again! Again!"

ARTICLE/VIDEO: Do Not Cave, Do Not Collapse

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