15/05/2026
I spoke in front of the largest crowd of my life last year: 7,000 people.
But what you didn't see? How anxious I was beforehand.
How I stayed up the entire night before because I couldn't fall asleep.
Because whenever I have a big event coming up, my cortisol shoots through the roof the night before and I can barely sleep.
Even after years of interviewing CEOs and bestselling authors.
Even after 30M+ podcast downloads.
The anxiety was still there.
That's when I realized, it's not something you outgrow.
It's something you learn to listen to.
Dr. John Delony explained it perfectly on my podcast:
Anxiety is your body’s smoke detector. 🚨
And when it keeps going off, something in your life feels unsafe.
Most people try to silence it:
Meditation.
Journaling.
Deep breaths.
All helpful.
But those often treat the symptom, not the source.
Since it's Mental Health Awareness Month, here's the real fix:
Find where the smoke is coming from.
Audit these 6 areas of your life:
🔍 Reality: Are you facing your circumstances honestly… or avoiding them?
👉🏼 Write down the ONE thing you've been avoiding. Make a plan for the next step.
🔍 Connection: Do you have 2-3 people you could call at 2am who'd actually show up?
👉🏼 Text or call one person you trust this week instead of isolating.
🔍 Freedom: Are you living by your own values or everyone else's expectations?
👉🏼 Say no to one thing that doesn't align with your values.
🔍 Health: Are you taking care of your body in a way that supports your nervous system, sleep, movement, and nutrition?
👉🏼 Commit to one earlier bedtime, one workout, or one healthy meal prep.
🔍 Mindfulness: Are you pausing and exhaling before reacting to stressful moments or running on autopilot?
👉🏼 Take 5 minutes before bed to sit quietly without your phone.
🔍 Belief: Does your sense of purpose feel intact, or off at a deeper level?
👉🏼 Spend time journaling, praying, or reconnecting to what gives your life meaning.
Rate each area: Low, Medium, or High safety.
Then pick ONE low area and take ONE small action this week.
Dr. John’s point was simple:
Anxiety often gets louder when your life feels out of alignment.
And small actions create safety faster than endless overthinking.
That’s how you stop white-knuckling life. 💯
I created a free Safety Audit worksheet so you can do this yourself 👇🏼
It walks you through all 6 areas, helps you rate where you feel safe (or not), and gives you space to plan one action for each.
📥 Grab it here → LINK IN THE COMMENTS
Which area are you auditing first? ⬇️
