Let’s be honest. The world feels like it’s on fire most days. Politics, the economy, social media meltdowns, the price of eggs. It’s enough to make your head spin. But here’s the thing: most of this noise is completely outside of your control. And if you’re losing sleep over it? You’re wasting precious energy you could be using on stuff that actually matters.
This is where the Stoics had it right, over 2,000 years ago. They gave us a simple (but not always easy) way to stay sane: focus only on what you can control.
They called it the Dichotomy of Control. I call it my sanity saver.
Picture yourself playing a game of soccer. You can control how hard you try, your attitude, whether you show up to practice. But can you control the rain, the ref’s terrible calls, or the other team’s shady tactics? Nope. So why waste energy getting mad at the rain?
Same goes for life.
When we wake up worrying about the latest headlines or stressing over what some politician did or didn’t say, we’re handing over our peace of mind. Instead, we could be asking:
✅ Did I wake up in a safe place today?
✅ Do I have food?
✅ Can I take one small action to improve my life right now?
Those questions put you back in the driver’s seat.
I’ll let you in on my secret sauce for handling the emotional chaos: the PAR method.
- Pause. Don’t react on autopilot.
- Acknowledge. “Yup, I’m feeling frustrated.”
- Respond. Choose what’s next, instead of letting your feelings choose for you.
The more you practice this, the more you’ll realize you don’t need anyone else to fix your mood or your day. You’re the hero of your own story.
And let’s talk about your stuff. Your environment? It’s part of your circle of influence too. Those piles of laundry or cluttered desks aren’t just messy. They’re like little stress factories, quietly judging you. I try (keyword: try) to follow my “Don’t Put It Down” rule. When I pick something up, I don’t put it down until it’s where it belongs. Sounds simple, right? It is. It’s also ridiculously hard sometimes, but it works.
The magic is in small, consistent actions. A tidy space. A paused reaction. A journal entry at night. That’s how you build a calm mind.
So here’s your challenge:
👉 This week, notice your emotional triggers. When you catch yourself spiraling over something you can’t control, stop. Ask: Is this up to me? If it’s not, let it go.
You’ve got this.