Anxiety traps us when we cling to things we can’t control: outcomes, other people, or the unpredictable future. It whispers, “If only this happens, you’ll be safe.”

Epictetus posed the question:

“If a person wasn’t wanting something outside of their control, why would they be stricken by anxiety?”

The answer is simple yet powerful: the tighter we grip, the more anxious we become.

True calm comes not from control but from acceptance.

Actionable:

1.⁠ ⁠Spot the trigger:
Pause and ask, “What am I afraid of losing or not getting right now?”
Name it to loosen its hold.

2.⁠ ⁠Surrender what is outside your grasp:
Say, “This is not mine to control.”
Shift focus to your actions, not outcomes.

3.⁠ ⁠Anchor yourself in the present:
Try this: Take a deep breath, feel the ground under your feet, and remind yourself, “I am safe in this moment.”

4.⁠ ⁠Create a mantra for clarity:
When anxiety flares, repeat, “Peace is my choice, not the world’s gift.”

Let go of what you can’t control and watch anxiety lose its power.

Your peace doesn’t need permission. It is already yours.