In a world where the only constant is change, I'm completely adrift. Let's face it, change and I are about as compatible as cats and water. Last night, I got some news that sent my thoughts into a chaotic circus: racing, confusing, and utterly overwhelming. "Live in the present," they say. "Don’t worry about the future," they say. Yeah, I'll get right on that as soon as the sky stops falling, the ground stops shaking, and elephants start flying. "Enjoy the moment," they advise, "because the future is promised to no one." Oh, sure, I’ll just soak up the moment while my brain plays a never-ending game of worst-case scenario roulette. How do I enjoy the present when it feels like my safety net is about to snap? Okay, fine, I over-worry, overthink, and leap to conclusions like an Olympic athlete. It's totally normal, right? And yes, I get it—the sky isn’t actually falling (thanks, Chicken Little), the monster under the bed probably relocated years ago, and the ground is rock-solid. My thoughts are like waves in the ocean—sometimes calm, sometimes crashing—but always coming and going in their relentless, sarcastic rhythm.

I'm scared and I don’t know where to go to hide from my thoughts. Should I hide in my closet? Crawl under my blanket? Or maybe stick my head in the sand and identify as an ostrich? (I mean, isn’t it the latest trend now to say I identify as whatever's in vogue?) Maybe I should just embrace my inner ostrich. At least they seem to have a foolproof method of dodging life’s troubles—head in the sand and voila, problem solved! Or perhaps the closet is the answer. I could make it my new home, complete with snacks and Wi-Fi. Imagine the cozy, judgment-free zone where the worst thing that happens is discovering I left the laundry basket in there. And let’s not forget the classic blanket fort. Nothing says "I’ve got my life together" like reverting to a five-year-old's strategy for dealing with stress. Plus, it doubles as a Netflix binge-watching fortress. Decisions, decisions.

I’m sitting here writing to you, and my brain is like a toddler on a sugar rush in a toy store—zooming around, crashing into things, and never stopping for a moment. Changes are scary—whether it’s job restructuring, financial chaos, health scares, or any other curveball life throws at us. Our minds start spinning these horror stories about the future, and we can’t seem to stop. It’s like we’re hardwired to think the sky is falling even when there’s not a cloud in sight. Honestly, if overthinking were an Olympic sport, I’d have a gold medal by now.

So, why do we worry so much? What’s the thought process behind our incessant need to anticipate disaster? Well, let’s dive into the psychological explanation—don your lab coats and safety goggles, folks, because we're about to dissect the brain like it's a frog in high school biology class.

Worrying is, at its core, a survival mechanism. Our brains are wired to protect us from danger. Back in the caveman days, this meant constantly scanning for saber-toothed tigers and poisonous berries. Fast forward to today, and our brains are still on high alert, except now they’re scanning for modern threats—like job losses, health issues, and financial instability. The trouble is, our brains can’t always differentiate between a real threat and a perceived one. So, they err on the side of caution, setting off alarm bells at the slightest hint of trouble.

This leads to the “what if” cycle. What if I lose my job? What if I get sick? What if I can’t pay my bills? These questions spiral out of control, creating a snowball effect of anxiety. It’s like our brains are running a never-ending worst case scenario simulation, hoping that by anticipating every possible disaster, we can somehow prevent it. Spoiler alert: we can’t.

Another factor is our desire to control. Worrying gives us the illusion that we’re doing something productive. If we’re fretting about the future, it feels like we’re taking action, even if that action is just pacing around our living room at 2 AM. It’s a way of trying to wrest control from an uncertain world, even though deep down, we know it’s futile.

Moreover, worrying can be a learned behavior. If we grew up in an environment where anxiety was a constant companion, we might have picked up the habit of overthinking as a coping mechanism. It’s like inheriting your grandmother’s vintage tea set, but instead of charming crockery, you get a lifetime supply of stress and over-analysis.

Writing this, I remember a story from my idol, Dr. Wayne Dyer. He once visited a radio station transitioning to a gospel format and humorously congratulated everyone on losing their jobs, suggesting it was a sign from God. This illustrated his belief that changes, even negative ones, are opportunities for growth and new beginnings, guided by a higher purpose. Dyer saw life’s twists and turns not as chaos but as steps toward our true purpose. Instead of feeling like the rug is pulled out from under us, what if we viewed change as the universe nudging—or shoving—us in a new direction?

Now, I know it’s easier said than done. When you’re in the middle of a storm, it’s hard to see the rainbow that might be waiting on the other side. But that’s exactly when we need to channel our inner Wayne Dyer and find the humor, the lesson, and the opportunity in the chaos. Instead of seeing change as the enemy, we can start to view it as an unexpected guest who’s come to shake things up for the better.

Think about the times in your life when something seemingly disastrous turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Maybe that job you didn’t get led you to a better opportunity. Maybe that breakup paved the way for a healthier, happier relationship. Or maybe, just maybe, that detour showed you a part of yourself you never knew existed.

It’s all about perspective. We can choose to see change as a disruptive force, or we can choose to see it as a transformative one. We can fight it, resist it, and let it overwhelm us, or we can embrace it, learn from it, and let it guide us to new possibilities.

So, how do we start seeing change in a new light? Here are a few tips I’ll be trying to shift my mindset: Acknowledge your feelings—it's okay to freak out a bit, just don’t unpack and live there. Look for the lesson in the chaos, like a cosmic pop quiz. Embrace the unknown, like that weird dish at a potluck—it might surprise you! Find the humor in the absurdity; if you can’t laugh, at least smirk. And trust the process, knowing that even a GPS reroutes, so the universe probably has better navigation.

Dear readers, let's cut our brains some slack. They mean well, even when they're driving us crazy. Understanding why we worry doesn’t make it go away, but it helps us manage it. Our brains are just trying to keep us safe, even if they overdo it. By recognizing this, we can step back and reassess. Not every bump in the road is a sign of impending doom.

Today's Wisdom:

"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." – Charles R. Swindoll

When life throws you a curveball, don’t just duck—grab a bat and swing. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by unexpected changes, but remember that our reactions shape our experiences. Embrace change, find the humor in chaos, and trust that every twist in the road is leading you somewhere amazing. Instead of fearing the unknown, see it as an opportunity for growth and new beginnings. Let’s face life’s challenges with a smile, a sense of humor, and an unshakeable belief that we are being guided toward our true purpose.

Remember, keep whispering your truth—because worry only makes the journey harder, and change is just the universe’s way of pushing us toward our potential.

Leila ❤️