I’ve had so many conversations lately with people feeling a bit thrown off course and distracted by external events—family dynamics, health scares, and especially the state of the world. 

Now, the news cycle alone is enough to send anyone spiraling, but when you add personal challenges on top of that? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the fear that rises up when we feel that we have no control.

And then comes the big, unspoken question:

“How am I supposed to live my life and thrive when everything around me feels like it’s falling apart?”

For many people, distraction has turned into something deeper—debilitation. It’s not just an occasional scroll through social media anymore; it’s a full-blown emotional hijack that keeps them stuck in fear, unable to move forward.

So what do we do when we find ourselves in this cycle? When life feels chaotic, and we’re caught in a loop of delay, distraction, or even debilitation?

The One Thing You CAN Control

I won’t sugarcoat it—this answer might feel a little uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re in the middle of a storm. But here it is:

Decision.

That’s it. Decision.

Not just any decision, but intentional, empowered decision-making.

When we’re caught in distraction or fear, we feel powerless, like life is just happening to us. But the truth is, we always have the power to decide how we respond. 

Decision shifts our focus. It stops the runaway fear train and brings us back to center.

Step One: Call a Halt to the Fear Spiral

Fear has momentum. If you don’t actively interrupt it, it keeps rolling, gaining speed, until it completely derails your sense of stability. 

The first step is to recognize when your thoughts have taken you into a worst-case-scenario spiral and consciously pause.

Take a breath. Put your hand on your heart. Remind yourself: “I am here. I am safe in this moment.”

Step Two: Decide—You Are More Than Your Circumstances

Right now, you might be facing work stress, health challenges, financial worries—the list goes on. And while you may not be able to change those circumstances overnight, you can change your relationship to them.

Decide: I am more than my surroundings.

This decision doesn’t make the chaos disappear instantly. But it does shift your energy. It reminds you that you are not powerless. 

That you are the thinker of your thoughts, not the thoughts themselves.

When you hold onto this decision, something incredible happens. Your energy starts to change. You stop transmitting fear and start radiating something stronger—hope, clarity, resilience. 

And in that shift, you reclaim your power.

The Bottom Line

The external world may be unpredictable, but your inner world is yours to steward. 

The moment you decide, I am more than my conditions, you begin to lead your life from a place of intention rather than reaction.

Next week, I’ll share a powerful way to use affirmations to strengthen this practice. But for today, just remember this:

You are more than the facts around you.

And that decision alone is enough to start changing everything.