Breaking Free from Worry: How to Find Peace in a Chaotic World
Lately, I have been doing something that I promised myself to cut back on: reading and listening to the news. I used to be a news junkie. Growing up, my parents always watched the evening and local news and read the newspaper. Being informed was considered a civic duty, knowing who your representatives were and what they were doing—or not doing—was part of responsible citizenship. So, it was no surprise that as I grew older, my interest in staying informed led to regular consumption of news media.
At the time, there was no internet, no cable news—just major networks, local newspapers, and magazines. Over time, my news consumption evolved, adding cable news and eventually the internet and social media. Having lived through this transition from news being limited to a few hours a day to a 24/7 barrage at our fingertips, I have noticed some profound changes.
The first was an increase in sensationalism. To keep people engaged, the news had to be more emotional and attention-grabbing. I preferred factual reporting over opinion-heavy content, so I sought sources that provided information rather than outrage. The second change was the sheer repetition—when there wasn’t enough news to fill the time, outlets began sensationalizing what they had and replaying the same stories constantly. If you watch an hour of CNN, you’ve seen all you need, because the same stories will be repeated throughout the day. When tragedies occurred, news outlets devoured them, stretching every detail into a prolonged spectacle.
Despite recognizing these issues, I consumed far too much of this "Sensationalized News." Who among us hasn’t been momentarily intrigued by the absurd headlines of a tabloid at the checkout line? Curiosity makes it hard to look away. But over time, I realized how unhealthy this habit had become, so I instituted a media fast—limiting myself to 15 minutes of reading per day and 15 minutes of online/news media from neutral sources like AP, Reuters, or BBC.
For a long time, this helped me feel more grounded. But recently, I’ve slipped back into old habits. With this, I’ve noticed a sharp rise in my anxiety and worry. My mental state has taken a hit, and I can directly correlate it to increased news consumption.
I worry about the future of America, the trajectory of our world, and the well-being of my children. The doom and gloom dominate headlines. The division and anger, the unraveling of institutions, and the instability in so many aspects of life—it’s overwhelming.
So, what do we do when worry consumes us?
Limit exposure to worry-inducing content. Identify activities that increase your worry and consciously reduce them.
Journal your worries. Writing them down helps to process and release them.
Engage in mindful activities. Take a walk in nature, meditate, practice Yoga Nidra, listen to calming music, or engage in mindful movement like yoga, tai chi, or stretching.
Release your worries. If it helps, burn the journal pages containing your worries and watch the smoke carry them away.
Shift your focus to gratitude. Make a list of things you’re grateful for and flood your body with feelings of peace and appreciation.
I once heard a phrase that resonated deeply: Worry is a prayer for what you don’t want to happen. Worry, a form of fear, is a projection into an uncertain future, often about things that may never happen. And yet, we participate in it as if it will change the outcome.
From a psychological perspective, worry is a cycle of anxious thoughts that can become overwhelming and difficult to control. It is often triggered by reminders of uncertainty or change and can interfere with daily life, affecting sleep, concentration, and overall well-being. When worry becomes excessive, irrational, or incapacitating, it can take a serious toll on mental and physical health.
So how do we break free from this cycle? We must cultivate balance. We must create space for stillness and calm.
Yoga Nidra and hypnotherapy offer powerful tools to quiet the mind, calm the nervous system, and reconnect with inner peace. In Yoga Nidra, you enter a deeply relaxed state where your subconscious can release stress, while hypnotherapy helps reframe anxious thoughts and cultivate a sense of inner stability.
If worry has been weighing you down, I invite you to explore these transformative practices. Come experience the profound relaxation of Yoga Nidra or a personalized hypnotherapy session to free yourself from the grip of worry. You deserve peace. You deserve calm. And it is within reach.
Wednesday Yoga Nidra Zoom Class @ 7 pm MST: It is easy to drop into to stillness with Yoga Nidra from the comfort of your own home. Click here to sign up for class!
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