Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we get caught up in the world. So many people spend hours worrying about things far away—politics, news from other countries, situations we have little control over. And yeah, it’s important to know what’s happening, but honestly… does it help if all that energy leaves you stressed, angry, or resentful?

For me, it starts with myself. Living with OCD and anxiety has taught me just how easy it is to spiral when I focus on things I can’t control. Clarity and calm don’t come from trying to fix everything around me—they come from tending to my own mind first.

I ask myself: Am I taking care of myself? Am I showing up for my family and the people around me? Am I living in a way that actually makes my life better? When I focus on those things first, everything else falls into place. Decisions feel easier. I react less and think more. I can be present and actually help others without feeling drained.

There have been times when I got lost in the chaos of the world. I’d scroll, read, worry, and feel completely overwhelmed. Pausing, grounding myself, and focusing on what I can control—my thoughts, my space, my actions—helped me breathe again. It helped me be someone people could rely on, instead of someone weighed down by resentment and stress.

It’s the same for the people around us. If you ignore them while trying to “help” people far away, those closest to you are left with scraps. Their needs go unmet. They feel neglected. You feel frustrated. It becomes a cycle no one wins.

I’m not saying ignore the world. Care, yes—but don’t let it consume you. Start within. Take care of yourself first, then your family, then your community, then your country. From that grounded place, your energy actually matters. It spreads. It builds rather than drains.

Start within. Care for yourself. Care for the people close to you. And let that clarity guide how you show up in the world. When you’re grounded and aware, your presence alone can quietly transform everything around you.