We keep hearing news of wars, of political unrest, of violence, of starvation. Natural disasters seem to strike with increasing frequency. The economy feels unstable. Political divisions grow deeper.
The world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.
It’s the most natural response in the world for us human beings to get upset about these things—and to stay upset. Sometimes, if we’re channeling that energy into action, our emotional response can be really useful. But other times, it just weighs on us. And that doesn’t help anyone.
The constant barrage of troubling news can leave us feeling powerless, anxious, and overwhelmed. Some people eventually want to put their head in the sand and block out all news altogether. But then we miss out on staying informed and connected to our world.
So how do we live in this connected world without having our mental health and well-being thrown completely out of whack? How do we stay engaged without being destroyed by what we’re seeing?
The Real Culprit Behind Our Upset
Here’s what I want you to understand: It’s not the events themselves that upset us. It’s not even the possibility that terrible things might be happening.
It’s the meaning our mind automatically and unconsciously gives to what we hear that creates our distress.
This is true for all the “bad news” we encounter. Whether it’s a natural disaster, political upheaval, war, or any other troubling event reported in the media, the event itself isn’t what destroys our peace of mind. It’s the meaning we assign to it.
Think about it. When you see images on TV of a town destroyed by bombs, you’re not actually there. When you hear about children who are starving, you’re hearing words someone has said about these children. The event for you is literally what you saw on your screen, what you heard through your speakers. Yet our minds immediately create meanings like “This is terrible,” “The world is going to hell,” or “These people are doomed.”
You Can Care Without Carrying the Weight
I know what you might be thinking: “But Shelly, these things ARE terrible. Shouldn’t I be upset? Doesn’t caring mean being disturbed by injustice and suffering?”
Here’s the beautiful truth I’ve discovered: You can be someone who cares deeply about what’s happening in the world AND someone who doesn’t let it destroy your peace of mind.
In fact, when you’re not weighed down by the emotional turbulence of constantly upsetting news, you become something precious: the calm in the eye of the storm. You become the person others can look to when everything feels chaotic. You maintain the optimal frame of mind that allows you to respond powerfully rather than react from a place of overwhelm.
Creating Space for Your Power
The transformation I want you to experience is this: You can create a space for yourself to be powerful, even in the face of terrible circumstances happening in the world.
Even if you don’t have control over those events, you don’t have to feel powerless in the face of them.
How This Works in Real Life
Let me share how I used this process back in 2020. I was lying in bed, scrolling through Facebook on my laptop, when a friend suggested a video made by someone I knew and trusted. Without much thought, I clicked it.
The speaker was talking about the pandemic as if it were a conspiracy. He claimed it had been intentionally released and that he had proof. I quickly closed the video, but the damage was done. I started to feel upset.
I decided to get some sleep, but as I lay there, my mind was racing. The words kept echoing: “intentionally released… I have proof.” Sleep felt impossible.
Finally, I decided to use the Lefkoe Occurring Process to help me deal with what I’d heard.
Event: A man I trusted said on a Facebook video that someone intentionally released the virus and that he has proof.
Feeling: Upset.
Occurring: It’s true that the virus was spread intentionally.
Distinction: This man that I trusted said these words: “There are people who spread the virus purposefully. I have proof.” That’s not the same as seeing that his words are the truth.
I realized that I didn’t know anything for sure just because he said this. Then I finally got some sleep.
Here’s how you can use the same process:
Step 1: Notice the Event What did you literally see or hear? Not what’s happening somewhere else in the world, but what reached your eyes and ears. “I saw this image on my phone.” “I heard these words on the news.”
Step 2: Notice the Meaning What did your mind automatically say about what you observed? “This is awful.” “Things are getting worse.” “The world is falling apart.” Don’t judge these meanings as wrong—just notice they’re there.
Step 3: Make the Distinction Separate what actually happened (what you saw/heard) from the meaning your mind created. Recognize that the meaning is an interpretation, not a fact.
Step 4: Create Alternative Interpretations Ask yourself, “What else could it mean that these events happened?” Create alternative ways of interpreting the same events. This helps you see that your mind’s first interpretation isn’t the only possible way to view the situation.
When you complete all four steps, you’ll often notice something remarkable: the meaning your mind originally gave to the events no longer seems like the truth. It may even have disappeared altogether.
The Gift of Conscious Awareness
When you practice this process, something remarkable happens. Instead of being at the mercy of every piece of troubling news that crosses your path, you become consciously aware of how your mind works.
You still stay informed. You still care deeply. You still take action where you can. But you’re no longer held hostage by the emotional rollercoaster of current events.
You discover that “bad news” for the world doesn’t have to be bad news for your life.
The events happening out there don’t have to determine your emotional state in here. And from this place of inner stability, you’re actually more capable of being a force for good in whatever way feels right to you.
The world needs people who can maintain their center when everything feels off-balance. It needs people who can think clearly when others are overwhelmed. It needs people like you, who understand that your peace of mind isn’t selfish—it’s a gift to everyone around you.
So the next time you encounter news that threatens to derail your day, remember: You have a choice. You can let your mind’s automatic meanings run the show, or you can step back, notice what’s really happening, and reclaim your power to respond from a place of calm strength.
The world will keep spinning. The news will keep coming. But your peace of mind? That’s entirely up to you.
Ready to Master This Process?
If you’re ready to stop letting the chaos of the world control your inner state, I’d love to help you dive deeper into this work.
I’m launching the Occurring Course in August—a comprehensive program that will teach you to master the Lefkoe Occurring Process and reclaim your peace of mind, no matter what’s happening around you.
You can join the waiting list to be the first to know when it goes on sale. Plus, while you’re waiting, I’ll send you exclusive resources and insights that you won’t find anywhere else—tools to help you start practicing this life-changing process right away.
Join the waiting list today and begin your journey toward unshakeable inner peace, even in an uncertain world.
