Where You Place Your Attention, You Place Your Power

If you want evidence that the world is a terrible place, watch the news. Scroll social media. Click on the latest headlines. Within minutes, you’ll be bombarded with stories designed to keep you agitated, anxious, and outraged. The world can feel like a chaotic, heavy place when we absorb all of this without question.

But what if you want evidence of something different? What if you want to remember that life is beautiful, that this planet is a miracle, and that peace is possible?

Step outside.

Unlike social media and the news, nature has no agenda. It isn’t trying to sell you anything. It isn’t trying to shape your beliefs, influence your choices, or keep you hooked on a cycle of fear. Nature just is. It exists in the flow, effortlessly giving, effortlessly being.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the weight of the world, I return to nature. For me, one of the most peaceful places is the farm where I grew up, sitting by the creek. I love placing my feet in the cool water, feeling the smooth rocks beneath me, and listening to the gentle rhythm of the current. The moment I arrive, I feel my body relax. My breath deepens. My mind clears.

That feeling—peace, presence, contentment—is always available to me. It’s not dependent on my surroundings. And I’ve learned that even when I can’t physically be at the creek, I can still access that peace.

Here’s how:

I close my eyes. I place my hand on my heart. I bring up the memory of sitting by the water, and I let myself fully experience it. I see it. I hear it. I feel it. My body doesn’t know the difference between being there physically and being there in my mind. Within moments, I feel the same sense of calm washing over me.

We are constantly feeding our energy into something. Every time we allow the news or social media to send us into a spiral of fear or frustration, we are giving away our power. But we have a choice.

We can choose where we place our attention.

We can choose what we allow into our minds and hearts.

We can choose to cultivate peace instead of anxiety.

Nature is a gift. It reminds us to slow down. To breathe. To be present. And most importantly, it reminds us that peace isn’t something we have to chase, it’s something we can create within ourselves.

So, the next time the world feels overwhelming, I invite you to step outside. Put your bare feet on the earth. Listen to the wind in the trees. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Let nature bring you back to yourself.

And when you can’t be outside, know that the peace you seek is still within you. Close your eyes. Place your hand on your heart. Remember.

It’s always there.

When we change the world changes.