Despite repeated military strikes back and forth between Israel and Iran in the previous ten days, much of the world went to bed on Saturday night hoping peace – presumably in part brokered by the United States – would prevail.
But instead they awoke Sunday morning to the news that the U.S. had used B-2 bombers to drop 30,000-pound bombs on three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities. Israel praised the move. Iran vowed retaliation. The world waited to see what would happen next.
No matter your political beliefs, the prospect of war is daunting. People like peace. Stock markets and retirement accounts prosper. Consumer goods are more plentiful and prices moderate. Gas prices stabilize, especially in the Middle East.
A threat to peace feels personal. We start to worry about how our daily lives will change and what will happen next.
Maybe your stress comes from something less global than war. But whether you’re concerned about your job or your kids or your car breaking down, the fear of the unknown can be paralyzing.
So what can you do when the world threatens to send you over the edge?
The answer might surprise you.
For me, when stress and anxiety seem too much to bear, I want to curl up under a blanket and hide out. Get lost in a novel for hours. Eat too much junk food. Watch mindless TV. (Sound familiar?)
If I ignore the warning signs of high stress for too long, my body literally shuts down and I have to go to bed. I power off like an overheated appliance. With rest, I’m usually ready to face the world again.
Stress and fear can be intense, so we need down time. But if we ever hope to move forward, the antidote to fear and uncertainty is to do something, feel something, and connect with the world around you. Control what you can and let the rest go, at least for the moment.
It’s hard to get started or make the time, but you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.
If you’re struggling to figure out what to do, two young people who’ve suffered unimaginable tragedy in the last two weeks have some ideas.
Sophie and Colin Hortman (ages 28 and 30, respectively) lost both of their parents – Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman – in a politically motivated and deadly shooting in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025. Given the circumstances, no one would judge if Sophie and Colin, who are “devasted and heartbroken,” turned a cold shoulder to the world as they grieved.
Instead, only two days after the tragedy, they urged people to honor their late parents by “doing something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”
Their parents had “intense dedication” to their community and “fellow humans.” Sophie and Colin’s suggestions to honor their parents’ memory reflect that connection to others and the world:
- Plant a tree.
- Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.
- Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.
- Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.
- Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa – and share it with someone.
- Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.
- Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.
Sophie and Colin continued in part: “Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. We must come together. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect.”
It’s difficult to imagine how Sophie and Colin had the courage and clarity to express themselves so eloquently just 48 hours after their parents were shot and killed in their own home. But if they can do that through their grief, surely we can respond with action.
If you’ve been knocked down or you’re feeling overwhelmed, curling up into a ball on your couch isn’t the long-term solution. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you can take the first step. We need the unique gifts and talents you have to offer, so get moving.
Just do something that connects you to other people and the world around you.
One step won’t solve everything, but it’s a start.
