Finding Happiness When Everything Around Us Is Crazy
A Message from my Heart
My dear fearless community,
I feel compelled to write to you today about something I'm witnessing that deeply concerns me. As we've explored together in this newsletter since last August, authenticity is our path to wholeness. But lately, I've been watching so many people, me included at times, getting caught in cycles of anger and reactivity that could be making us sick.
This isn't just about politics or social media. It's about our well-being. It's about our health. It's about the potential to veer off course away from the authentic life we've been exploring together.
It’s about something essential: the recognition that authenticity isn't a luxury, it's a lifeline. Especially when the path ahead is unclear. I hope to shine a light on the path that leads back to our true selves, even when the noise around us makes it hard to see.
The Chaos Around Us
And let's be frank, the path has never felt more unclear than it does today. We live in a world of constant chaos, where the news cycle never stops, social media never sleeps, and outrage seems to be the currency of our collective attention. In this environment, how do we stay centered? How do we remain true to ourselves when everything around us feels designed to pull us into reactivity?
The answer isn't about ignoring what's happening or pretending everything is fine. Instead, it's about recognizing a fundamental truth: our well-being and our authenticity are inextricably linked. When we let external chaos dictate our internal state, we lose not just our peace but also our power to create meaningful changes in our lives and the world.
The Physical Toll of Constant Outrage
Science is clear on this. Chronic anger triggers stress responses that flood our bodies with cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones, meant for short-term survival, become toxic when present day after day. They suppress our immune function, disrupt our sleep, and even change how our brains process information. The result? We become less capable of the very things we need most: creativity, compassion, and clear thinking.
When we're caught in cycles of outrage and reactivity, the consequences ripple through every aspect of our lives. Our relationships suffer as we bring that agitated energy into our interactions with loved ones. We find ourselves snapping at the people closest to us, creating distance where we most need connection.
When Simple Decisions Become Difficult
Our productivity plummets as our brains, hijacked by stress hormones, struggle to focus on what's important. Tasks that once took minutes now consume hours. Projects that energized us now feel overwhelming. The creative flow that fuels our best work becomes inaccessible when our nervous system is in a constant state of alert.
Perhaps most concerning is how this state impacts our decision-making ability. When we're stressed and reactive, the part of our brain responsible for planning, reasoning, and thoughtful choices becomes less active. Meanwhile, our brain's alarm system becomes hyperactive.
We lose access to our wisest thinking.
This explains why we find ourselves taking longer to decide even simple things, like what to eat for lunch. Our decision-making muscles are exhausted from the constant vigilance about things we can't control. We second-guess ourselves, overcomplicate choices, or avoid making them altogether. And all the while, the truly important decisions, about our health, our growth, our relationships, get pushed aside.
The Cost to Our Authentic Selves
But there's a deeper cost as well. When we're caught in cycles of reactivity, we're not showing up as our true selves. We're showing up as our triggered, defensive, fearful selves. And from that place, we can't access our wisdom, our purpose, or our authentic voice.
This is where the connection between authenticity and well-being becomes clear. I say this with so much love and concern: please stop hurting yourself with things you cannot control. Checking the news obsessively, getting into arguments on social media, letting your blood pressure rise over situations that may never directly touch your life. I understand it. We all do it. But I care about you too much not to point out what it's costing you.
When we're aligned with our truth, we have clear internal guidance. We know what matters to us and can make decisions from that centered place. But when we're caught up in external chaos, we lose that inner compass. We become reactive rather than responsive, making choices based on fear or frustration rather than our deeper values.
The Isolation Trap
I've noticed something else lately, and perhaps you've experienced it too: all this noise and negativity has caused me to feel less interested in interacting with others. I'm more tired. By the end of my workday, all I want is to be left alone.
And that is exactly the wrong thing for us to do.
When the world's chaos depletes us the most, it's precisely when we need an authentic connection the most. Yet it's in these moments that we're likely to withdraw, creating a dangerous cycle: the more isolated we become, the more our thoughts spiral, and the less perspective we have on what's happening versus what we fear might happen.
Connection is the antidote to much of what ails us. Real connection. Not the digital kind that often leaves us feeling more alone than before but genuine presence with others who see us, hear us, and remind us of our shared humanity beyond the divisiveness that dominates our screens.
The Path Back to Ourselves
So how do we break free? How do we reclaim our authenticity and our agency in a world that seems determined to hijack both? I‘m not suggesting you become like Holly Hunter, whose character in “Broadcast News” used a timer to have a designated crying time each day.
But I am suggesting a radical shift in focus. Instead of fixating on everything wrong and everyone with whom we disagree, we must turn our attention to what matters most: our values, our purpose, and the impact we want to have. This doesn't mean becoming passive or disengaged. Rather, it means choosing our battles with intention rather than being pulled into every fight.
The most powerful truth-seekers I know are the ones creating real change in their communities, families, and within themselves. They are not the ones constantly reacting, posting multiple times a day on social media, or arguing with others. They're the ones creating. They're building something that matters to them, something aligned with their deepest truth. And in doing so, they find a wellspring of joy that external chaos can't touch.
Fearless Authenticity in Practice
This is what I mean by fearless authenticity: the courage to stay connected to your truth even when the world around you is spinning. It's about recognizing that your thoughts create your reality, and that you have the power to choose thoughts that serve rather than sabotage your well-being.
The good news is that we can reclaim our authentic selves, and with that, our relationships, productivity, and decision-making power. It begins with recognizing the pattern and making a conscious choice to break it. Not once, but daily. Not perfectly, but persistently.
This isn't about toxic positivity or ignoring real problems in the world. It's about choosing where to focus your precious energy and recognizing that your most powerful contribution comes not from your reactivity, but from your creativity, your compassion, and your clear-headed action.
Questions for Reflection
So I invite you to ask yourself: What conversations are you having in your head? Are they moving you toward your authentic expression or keeping you stuck? Are they empowering or depleting? And most importantly, are they truly yours, or have you absorbed them from the noise around you?
The path forward isn't about perfection. We all get caught in reactive cycles sometimes. But each time we notice it happening, we have a choice. We can continue down the spiral, or we can pause, breathe, and reconnect with what matters most.
This is the heart of fearless authenticity. It is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to stay true to yourself even when it's uncomfortable. Because when you do, you discover something profound: happiness isn't a destination you reach when everything is perfect. It's a capacity you cultivate by staying connected to your truth, regardless of what's happening around you.
Practical Steps I'm Taking (And You Can Too)
Here's what I'm personally doing to protect my energy and reclaim peace of mind:
Limiting social media exposure: I'm cutting Facebook time and making a conscious choice not to respond to posts that feel triggering or negative. No more falling down those rabbit holes!
Creating designated "connection times": I'm limiting my time on all social media to specific assigned points in my day, rather than checking constantly throughout the day.
Turning off notifications: Those dings, rings, and constant distractions keep us in a perpetual state of reactivity. I'm silencing them so I can focus on the good and positive in my life.
Practicing gratitude: I write down three things I'm grateful for each day. This simple practice rewires our brain to notice the positive more readily.
Setting email boundaries: Just like social media, I'm limiting my email access. Our inboxes shouldn't control our day or our mental space.
Morning pages: I'm writing two pages each morning to get the "crap" out of my head before I start my day. This brain dump clears mental space and helps me identify thought patterns that aren't serving me.
Midday movement: I'm going for walks at lunch to reset my nervous system, change my perspective, and reconnect with the physical world around me.
Making time for hobbies: I'm deliberately scheduling time for activities that bring me joy and put me in a flow state, where the outside world and its problems fade away. When we're engaged in something we love, our stress hormones decrease while our creativity and satisfaction soar.
Prioritizing in-person connections: I'm spending more time with friends—real, face-to-face time where we can laugh, share, and remember what truly matters. These connections ground us in what's real and immediate rather than what's distant and hypothetical.
These might seem like small steps, but they're powerful acts of reclaiming your attention and your peace of mind. I invite you to join me in adopting one or more of these practices. Notice how different you feel after even a week of intentional boundaries with the digital world.
Remember Your Power
Remember: in a world that profits from your reactivity, staying centered in your truth is a revolutionary act. Choose it daily, choose it boldly, and watch how it transforms not just your experience, but your impact on everything around you.
I know we've explored many dimensions of fearless authenticity together since I began this newsletter last August. But sometimes we need to return to the fundamentals, especially when they matter most. And right now, what matters most is your health, your peace of mind, your ability to contribute your unique gifts to the world.
This is fearless authenticity in action, and it's available to you right now, regardless of what's happening in the world around you.
With deep care for your well-being, Laura
A Deeper Dive
The 5-5-5 Reset Practice
When you find yourself caught in the loop of stress, anger, or obsessive thinking about things outside your control, try this simple but powerful practice:
5 Minutes of Awareness: Set a timer for five minutes. During this time, simply observe your thoughts without judgment. Notice what you're fixating on, how your body feels, and what emotions are present. Don't try to change anything yet—just witness.
5 Deep Breaths: Take five slow, deep breaths, inhaling for a count of four, holding for a count of two, and exhaling for a count of six. With each exhale, imagine releasing the tension you identified in the previous step.
5 Actions You Control: On a piece of paper, quickly list five actions you can take today that are completely within your control and aligned with your values. These might be related to your work, health, relationships, or personal growth. Choose one to do immediately.
This practice works because it moves you from reactivity to responsiveness. The awareness step interrupts the stress cycle, the breathing step resets your nervous system, and the action step redirects your energy toward what matters.
When you finish, notice how different you feel. That shift in energy and clarity is always available to you, not because the world has changed, but because you've changed how you're engaging with it.
Daily Mantra
Carry this mantra with you throughout the week, especially when facing challenges:
"Today, I will stay true to myself, even when the world is spinning.
My peace is my power."
Repeat each morning or whenever you feel external pressure to conform to someone else's work style. Keep it visible, perhaps alongside your permission slip, as a gentle reminder of your commitment to authenticity.
As you continue to navigate social expectations and personal choices, remember that your path is uniquely yours. Embrace the journey, celebrate your accomplishments, and surround yourself with people who support and uplift you. Join me each Sunday at 10:10 a.m. ET for inspiration, encouragement, and community. Why 1010? In numerology, 1010 symbolizes new beginnings, spiritual awakening, and the realization of our potential.