The world is on fire right now. It’s a bit daunting to look at any screen without being bombarded with news about a looming trade war, world war, or an asteroid hitting the planet. Some of us are on edge, while others have entered the Swamp of Sadness. 

While we cannot escape this momentary lapse in our collective human judgment, we can find ways to avoid being swallowed by despair.

We can recognise and admit that we are powerless to control events outside our immediate circle of concern. Most of us have limited influence or impact on anything beyond our front door or desk at work. A lot of us don’t even own our front doors. By accepting our powerlessness about events in the macrosystem, we can turn our attention to the things we can influence. We can focus on creating a sense of stability in the places we breathe.

There is relief in realising that, individually, I can do little to change world events. It doesn’t mean you condone what’s happening, nor am I advocating for living in denial. When we accept things as they are, we have a moment to create clarity before deciding what to do or not to do. And yes, we don’t need to react to everything.

When we experience uncertainty we usually feel anxious. Remember, anxiety’s purpose is to keep you alive by not solving the problem. Anxiety isn’t the problem; it’s a very normal response to something we perceive as threatening. Ask yourself: Why am I feeling anxious? Can I solve the problem? Is the way I’m filtering events helpful? What part of me is trying to get my attention? What is this part trying to protect me from? Systematically work through the things you can and cannot control or influence. Ultimately, to reduce your anxiety paralysis you will have to face it.

Everything is not fine, and it doesn’t need to be to get out of the building. Ask for help or support. Much like the news, anxiety hates fact checking. Having a conversation or getting a different perspective might just resolve some of the angst in your pants.