How to stop freaking out about stuff that hasn’t even happened yet

80% of the people I work with are stressing themselves out over things that haven’t even happened yet.

They’re stuck in their head overthinking, overanalysing and getting overwhelmed with all of this shit that’s not even real.

A lot of spiritual teachers talk about how “the mind is the source of all suffering” and it’s true.

You only need to look at your own experience to confirm this theory.

We’ve all had those times where we have worked ourselves up over nothing.

It’s like you’re imagining some fantasy (or nightmare) that's completely delusional.

Now you might have heard people talk about how “being delusional” is actually a great way to become successful in your life.

You’ve got to be a dreamer.

Let your imagination run wild.

Be creative!

And all of that is true.

The problem is when your imagination is out of control.

So you’re not CHOOSING what you’re being delusional about.

You’re not CONSCIOUS of what’s occupying your mind.

You’re having these random thoughts and ideas pop into your head UNCONSCIOUSLY.

Because if you were actually conscious… you wouldn’t choose to be full of doubt, worry and fear would you?

I don’t think so…

This is the most common mental loop that keeps people trapped in a cycle of anxiety.

Worrying about a future that hasn’t even happened yet which creates an experience of not feeling safe in the present moment 

How to stop freaking out about stuff that hasn’t even happened yet

Anxiety & Your Imagination

Now when it comes to anxiety, a lot of people struggle with the physical symptoms that come along with it.

The racing heart, the shortness of the breath, that sick feeling in your stomach. 

Anxiety can be a very physical experience.

But if you look a bit deeper into it, you’ll find that the physical symptoms are being driven by a mind that is totally out of control with fears, doubts and worries.

It’s your imagination that is out of control.

Which can then create a loop of anxiety between the mind and the body.

Your imagination is actually one of the most powerful functions of your mind.

Your imagination is the same mechanism that allows you to dream, create, and visualize what you want in life.

It’s what allows an athlete to see the finish line before the race even begins.

It’s what helps a business owner build something from nothing.

But when that same imagination starts focusing on worst-case scenarios, it becomes destructive instead of creative.

It can trick your body into believing danger is near, even when you’re sitting safely in bed.

That’s why your heart races, your stomach tightens, and your mind spins in circles. 

Your body doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality.

It just responds to whatever story your mind is fixed on.

You’re NOT Broken

This does NOT mean you are broken.

Most people assume having anxiety means there is something wrong with you… that’s not true.

The real problem isn’t that “you’re broken”, it’s that you’ve been operating off out-dated survival programming and it’s become embodied in your nervous system.

And most people don’t like hearing this or can’t even fathom it, but you have been living unconsciously.

It’s like you’ve been on autopilot, just “getting through it”, just coping and just surviving.

That’s because we were never taught how to use our mind properly or take creative control of the imagination… it’s not something that’s encouraged at school.

Instead, it’s like, “follow our instructions and do what we say”.

The moment you become aware that you CAN consciously control the direction of your thoughts, everything starts to shift.

Presence Is the Medicine

The fastest way to stop freaking out over shit that hasn’t happened yet is to become present.

Presence isn’t some woo-woo spiritual idea. 

It’s the most practical skill you can learn if you want peace, clarity, and control over your inner experience.

The reason Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power Of Now was so successful, is because we all know we need to live more in “the now”.

When you’re present, you’re in the here and now… 

The only place life is actually happening.

You can do this by connecting to your senses.

You take a deep breath.

You feel your hand on your heart.

You can notice that, right now, you’re safe.

And in that moment, all of your worries dissolve because they were never real to begin with.

The Nervous System

From a physiological perspective, anxiety is your nervous system reacting to perceived threat. 

The keyword here is perceived.

Your thoughts send electro-chemical signals through your body.

The thought “I’m in danger” will activate stress chemicals even when there’s no actual threat nearby.

Your body then feels like it’s in danger because the mind is so intimately connected to the body.

Your heart rate increases. 

Cortisol rises. 

Breathing shortens.

The body doesn’t check for evidence, it just listens to the mind.

But when you become present, you can train yourself to send the opposite signal: “I’m safe.”

This one shift can completely change your biochemistry. 

The nervous system regulates, cortisol drops, and you begin to feel calm again.

That’s why presence isn’t just some spiritual concept, it’s the key to nervous system regulation.

Regaining Control of Your Imagination

Once you’ve learned how to stay grounded in the present moment, you can start regaining your imagination as the powerful creative tool it was designed to be.

You can continue letting it run wild with thoughts of doubt and worry, or you can focus and intentionally imagine the kind of life you actually want to be living.

That’s how you shift from Anxiety to Alignment (my signature anxiety course)

The same imagination that once created fear, doubt and worry can now create vision, purpose, and possibility.

It’s all about getting present and training your ability to focus on what you want (instead of what you don’t want).

I’ve helped 300+ people to get free from anxiety and find inner peace by mastering their mindset with the Mind Launch Method.

If you want to learn how it works and how I can help, there’s a 5-minute explainer video on my website where I teach you the method, you can check it out here.

Finally, if you have been struggling with anxiety, overthinking or freaking yourself out about shit that hasn’t happened yet, I want you to know, you can get that under control.

If you want my help with that, go check out the video on my website and book a call with me.

You got this.

With Optimism,

Josh