Serenity Now!
“Rule No. 1 is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule No. 2 is, it’s all small stuff.” ― Robert Eliot
Anxiety.
As humans, we all experience it. It runs through our central nervous systems at varying levels, hardwired into us by evolution. Anxiety is a core part of our genetic makeup—our built-in fight-or-flight instinct. Whether we realize it or not, it's there. And in our modern world, current events and everyday life often amplify it.
We’re bombarded constantly—from news and social media feeds to emails, texts, streaming services, billboards, subway ads, and even elevator screens. The message is relentless: be afraid.
No wonder so many of us are overwhelmed. It’s no surprise that antidepressant sales have soared. We’re often stuck in survival mode—either reacting and lashing out (fight), or retreating into coping mechanisms (flight): alcohol, edibles, microdosing, gaming, binge-watching, overeating, shopping, gambling—anything to numb the stress.
But it raises a critical question:
What kind of life are we really living if we’re unconsciously carrying around so much anxious energy?
It’s hard to chase dreams or embrace the present when your mind is stuck in a loop of “What if…” or “I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Everyone struggles with anxiety at different points in life. Many of us were raised on cautionary phrases like “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” or “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” It’s no wonder so much of our anxiety lives beneath the surface.
“Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” ― Dale Carnegie
As children, we worry about breaking rules, disappointing parents, or being left out by Santa. As teens, anxiety skyrockets—fitting in, our changing bodies, social embarrassment, failure, heartbreak, and ridicule all weigh heavily on us. Then comes adulthood, and the pressure only builds as we try to meet the expectations of partners, family, friends, bosses, society, and even ourselves.
That’s a heavy burden to carry.
Most of our anxiety stems from how we perceive events. Sure, life throws serious challenges our way—loss, illness, job stress, relationship problems—but how we internalize and react to these moments plays a massive role. We worry we’re not enough: not smart enough, rich enough, beautiful enough, loved enough.
But let’s call that what it is:
Wasted energy.
At this point, I’m ready to shout: “FCK YOU, ANXIETY!”*
Thankfully, there are ways to work through it. I've personally found relief through deep breathing, meditation, exercise, conversations with close friends, therapy, and coaching. All of these have helped.
“My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne.” ― Tina Fey
The antidote to anxiety that works best for me is laughter. Rather than catastrophize, I try to find something humorous in the situation or I cue up a Sebastian Maniscalco short or a funny animal video.
“There was much anxiety.”
Another powerful tool I swear by is journaling. Writing down my thoughts—especially worries—helps me understand and release them. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron introduces an exercise called Morning Pages: three handwritten, stream-of-consciousness pages each morning. It’s like a brain dump that clears mental clutter, brings clarity, and unlocks creativity.
The truth is, anxiety drains us. It saps our energy and steals our joy. It robs us of hope and the ability to imagine something better.
F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything and Run’ or ‘Face Everything and Rise.’ The choice is yours. - Zig Ziglar
But what if if all that mental energy went toward what we actually want to create.
Imagine being flooded every day with good news, encouraging messages, and reminders to be VERY, VERY HAPPY.
Well, there are places where positivity lives, and The Positive People Project is one of them. In fact, below are just a few sources that report exclusively on the good news happening all around the world . No politics, no spin, no doom and gloom, just inspiring stories and good updates worth hearing.
Good News, Inspiring, Positive Stories - Good News Network
And in the spirit of positivity, I’ve decided to end each blog post with something funny, cute, or uplifting—something intended to leave you smiling, laughing, and feeling just a little lighter. 😊
Here is a quick de-stressor, relevant to today’s topic:
Studies show that watching a beaver eat cabbage lowers stress by 17%
And a happy story about conquering our fear!
With love and laughter,
Annie @The Positive People Project. 😊
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