Managing Anxiety Through The Three Principles: Why Waiting for 'Next' Is Holding You Back

With summer coming to a close, I bet I know what you're thinking: What's next? For many of us, this pattern is all too familiar—we live our lives in sections, waiting for the next event or milestone to feel better.

I used to live like that for years. I’d break my life down into chunks—seasons, birthdays, holidays—constantly waiting for the next thing to arrive so I could finally relax.

Maybe you've said some of these things to yourself:

• “When I get this out of the way, I’ll feel better...”
• “I can’t relax until this happens...”
• “When ‘X’ happens, I’ll finally be OK...”
• “I just need to get through ‘X’, and I’ll be fine...”

Sound familiar?

Living in the Future Fuels Anxiety

I was never fully present. My mind was always jumping ahead, and I set these imaginary conditions around when I could feel better. Once summer ended, I’d shift my focus to Christmas—yes, Christmas, and it was only September!

I used to think Christmas made me anxious. The anticipation, the pressure—I just wanted it over. This kind of thinking created so much anxiety, not because of Christmas itself, but because I believed that something outside of me was causing my anxiety.

But here's the thing: the only guarantee we have is right now.

The Present Moment is Where Peace Lives

I didn’t always know this. It wasn’t until I discovered The Three Principles that I realized something crucial: peace of mind comes from within, not from external events or circumstances.

The more we focus on “what’s next,” the more we pull ourselves away from that inner peace—innocently, of course, but the effect is the same. The key to managing anxiety and finding contentment is knowing that peace is always available, here and now.

The Power of The Three Principles

Before understanding The Three Principles, I believed my peace of mind depended on what was happening around me. I thought if I could just change my circumstances, I’d feel better.

But what I learned was life-changing: our experience of life comes from the inside out. When we see that, everything changes. We realize that our thoughts and feelings are creating our reality, and that gives us the freedom to let go of the pressure we place on external events.

Tough Love Time: Stop Waiting for Happiness

Now, here’s my tough-love moment (you know I bring these out every so often!). You can keep waiting and hoping that something outside of you will create your happiness, but I’m here to tell you: your happiness is already within you, and it's available right now.

No external event—whether it’s a holiday, a relationship, or hitting a certain goal—will ever bring lasting happiness. That can only come from within.

Embrace Who You Are Right Now

Maybe you’re telling yourself that by Christmas, you’ll feel different. Maybe you think you’ll be at a certain weight or that life will somehow be more settled. But here’s what I want to encourage you to do: come to peace with who you are right now.

You are already enough. When we approach ourselves with love and compassion, everything in life flows more easily—and that’s no coincidence.

It’s a Journey, Not a Destination

Yes, it can feel tough at times. We often think, “If only I had more of this,” or “If only that person would change, I’d feel better.” But the more we open our minds to our own human experience, the more we’ll see that everything we experience comes from within.

If this doesn’t resonate with you right now, that’s okay. I’m not here to convince you; I’m here to encourage you to get curious. Explore what this might mean for you and see what shows up.

Ready to Explore More?

If you're ready to commit to living in the present and deepening your understanding of The Three Principles, I’ve created a membership community just for that. It's a space where you can consistently explore these ideas with an open mind, in a supportive and loving environment.