When stress isn't about what you think it is
I went to see Kumail Nanjiani’s comedy show the other week in Austin.
There were many highlights and poignant moments; however, one in particular was especially relatable.
He shared a story about a time years ago when his father was in a serious car accident. The first person he called was Kumail. As they spoke, Kumail remained calm, reassuring, and steady, telling his father he would be okay. After hanging up, he thought, “I nailed how I handled that.” But later, his fear and anxiety surfaced as anger—directed at not being able to find his favorite Ninja Turtles shirt.
I experienced something similar firsthand at the end of last year. There was one particular week when I noticed extreme stress and worry about my business. The intensity of those feelings didn’t match what was actually happening in my business. Then it hit me: I was really feeling sadness and fear about everything happening in the world, and those emotions were manifesting in an area I could control—my business.
I’ve already had over 35 coaching conversations in 2025, and many people are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Every day, I help people find practical and sustainable ways to work through these feelings. And I want to remind everyone who needs to hear it: Please don’t underestimate the influence world events have on your day-to-day mindset. Simply recognizing this can make a huge difference.
