March 4, 2025 | Issue Archive
Videos | Speaking | Blog | Course | Book
DOWNLOAD AND SHARE:
We’re in week 87 (or so it feels) of a revolving door of sickness in our house. Two of our three kids have been sick. My son’s mom (my ex-wife) has been in the hospital for three weeks. And on top of that, we still have work to do.
Relatable?
It’s been a lot.
And that’s even before looking at the headlines.
Another week, another crisis. Federal funding cuts. Political chaos. New tariffs. Global instability.
I talk a lot about the need to adapt to change—but let’s be honest:
What we’re experiencing right now doesn’t feel like change. It feels like chaos.
And chaos hits differently.
Change is something we can anticipate, plan for, and learn to navigate.
Chaos is unpredictable, messy, and overwhelming.
But here’s the key difference between managing change and managing chaos:
In change, we adapt to the external.
In chaos, we anchor to the internal.
That’s what today’s message is about.
How to Stay Grounded When the World Feels Like a Storm
Most people don’t get stuck because they can’t handle change. They get stuck because they feel powerless in chaos.
But here’s the truth:
You can’t control everything.
But you can control what you bring to this moment.
And the people who thrive—even in times like these—don’t just react to chaos.
They reclaim their power.
Here’s how:
- Feel It (Don’t Deny Reality)
There’s no prize for pretending things are fine when they’re not. Let yourself acknowledge what’s hard. Take a breath. Name the stress. Let it be real.
- Reframe It (Find Your Anchor)
The difference between sinking and staying steady in chaos? To a great extent, your thoughts. Think about it. (No pun intended.)
Powerless: “Everything is out of control.”
Powerful: “What’s one thing I can control today?”
Powerless: “This is happening TO me.”
Powerful: “This is happening FOR me—to build resilience, strength, or clarity.”
- Rise (One Small Action Shifts Everything)
In chaos, the first step is the hardest. But action—no matter how small—breaks the cycle of overwhelm. Keep reading for some simple actions you can take right now.
Small shifts create big momentum. The goal isn’t to fix everything today. The goal is to reclaim your power... in even the smallest of ways.
⚠️ THIS ENDS NOW ⚠️
Identify one habit, belief, or behavior that’s no longer serving you—and let it go.
Too many of us are waiting for better conditions before we take action.
🔹 "I’ll make that change when things settle down."
🔹 "I’ll focus on my health when work isn’t so crazy."
🔹 "I’ll go after that dream when the timing is better."
🚨 Newsflash: The timing will never be perfect.
What if instead of waiting for things to calm down, you decided that chaos doesn’t get to decide your direction?
👉 What if today was the end of letting your circumstances choose for you?
🌟 THIS MOMENT MATTERS 🌟
One simple, actionable step to take to create a ripple effect of change in your life
Your breath is the remote control for your nervous system.
Right now, try this:
🔹 Inhale slowly for 4 seconds.
🔹 Hold for 4 seconds.
🔹 Exhale for 6 seconds.
Repeat three times.
Feel the shift? That’s you choosing calm in chaos.
Because you don’t have to control everything—just how you show up, and how you respond.
If this hit home for you, reply and let me know:
💡 What’s one thing you’re choosing to control today?
Or share this with someone who needs to hear it.
Because while we can’t control the chaos, we can choose how we meet it.
Up we go—
P.S. If you lead a team—or know someone who does—I’d love to support them with this message. Whether it’s speaking at your next conference or popping in for a Zoom/Teams session, people are overwhelmed by uncertainty right now and I can help. Hit reply and let’s chat.
P.P.S. If you haven’t already, add shawn@shawnellis.com to your contacts to ensure important updates and messages like this reach your primary inbox.