– Swami Satchidananda
I recently read something that really surprised me: studies have shown that Americans are far more anxious than people in developing countries, many of whom struggle daily to meet their basic needs for food, clean water, shelter, and personal safety. Experts suggest that the driving force behind this epidemic of anxiety is a perceived loss of control. If feeling a lack of control is the root problem, perhaps the remedy is to remember that we always have control over what we choose to focus upon, which will determine how we feel. Each one of us can determine how well we will live each day: We can succumb to stress by focusing on all the crazy stuff constantly happening around the globe, or we can learn from those who find peace in the midst of chaos that how we feel is entirely an inside job.