Worried?!?

The world feels a little wild right now. Or maybe a lot wild.

I’m hearing it in almost every conversation—people naming this low hum of anxiety, a sense of unease, a swirl of “what ifs.” The news gives you whiplash (which is why I gently suggest not checking it first thing in the morning. Please don’t let your nervous system start the day like that).

So many of us are feeling worried. And that makes perfect sense.

Worry shows up when we sense uncertainty or feel like things are moving in a direction we don’t like or can’t control. When we resist what is—wishing it were different—we create tension. And that tension feeds fear.

Here’s the thing: I’m not saying what’s happening in the world is okay. I’m saying that how we relate to it—how we be with what’s happening—matters deeply for our own well-being.

So let’s slow it down and ask: What is worry, really?

It’s a tight knot in the stomach. A lump in the throat. A sense that something is off. For me, it often starts with the thought, Did I do something wrong? Is someone upset with me? That thought starts a cascade—my chest gets tight, my heart races, the worry drops into my belly.

Worry is a deeply human response to a perceived threat. It begins in the mind: Thought → Feeling → Reaction.

And our reactions? 

We procrastinate. 

We numb out. 

We overeat or stop eating. 

We pour a drink. 

We try to disappear.

But what if, instead of spiraling, we paused?

What if we noticed the sensations without judging them, took a breath, and simply acknowledged: I’m worried right now. That soft awareness opens the door to presence. To choice. To calm.

Worry doesn’t mean something bad is happening. It means our body and brain are trying to protect us from what might happen. That’s kind of sweet, isn’t it?

So today, if you’re feeling the swirl… slow it down.

Feel your feet on the ground.

Take a long exhale.

And ask gently: What do I need right now to feel a little more steady?