Before you choose differently, you’ve got to name what’s keeping you stuck.
Every week, we unpack one invisible script, silent “should,” or outdated role—so you can see it clearly, question it gently, and start reclaiming your power.
You wake up and reach for your phone. Before your feet hit the floor, you’ve already checked the news, scrolled headlines, and caught up on the latest crisis.
You tell yourself you just want to stay informed. But lately, it feels less like awareness—and more like anxiety disguised as responsibility.
The Trap
When the world feels unstable, your brain starts confusing awareness with control.
You think that if you read enough, analyze enough, stay “in the know,” you’ll feel safer.
But instead, your nervous system never powers down.
The constant alerts, opinions, and “what ifs” keep your amygdala on high alert—feeding your anxiety instead of easing it.
Here’s what’s really happening:
Your mind is trying to solve emotional uncertainty with information.
But uncertainty isn’t a problem to fix—it’s a feeling to regulate.
And when you chase certainty in a chaotic world, you end up exhausted, overstimulated, and no more informed than before.
Over time, your ability to think clearly, rest deeply, and make sound decisions starts to erode.
The Insight
This is what I call the Anxiety Spiral Trap—when your nervous system stays stuck in a loop of vigilance.
You’re not trying to be obsessive.
You’re trying to feel safe.
The truth is: mental safety comes from regulation, not reaction.
Clarity requires calm.
And calm requires boundaries.
Your Untrapped Move
Start with a sanity boundary around information:
Choose two trusted sources and ignore the rest.
Check once in the morning, once in the evening—never before bed.
Pair every “check-in” with a check-out: a deep breath, a walk, or a quiet moment before reacting.
You can’t control the chaos, but you can control your capacity.
That’s how you reclaim clarity in an age of constant alarm.
Reflection Prompt
Where have you been mistaking vigilance for control—and how might you create a calmer rhythm of awareness this week?
Coming This Week
In this week’s podcast episode—How to Stay Grounded When the World Is on Fire, we’ll go deeper into how to regulate your nervous system when everything feels out of control, plus practical grounding rituals for clarity under chaos.