Many Americans feel stressed about how tariffs increase the cost of living. The main fear is not being able to keep up or manage these changes, which can lead to a sense of inadequacy.
Most people are not receiving higher pay to offset rising taxes. Those on fixed incomes are especially concerned about meeting their basic needs.
Concerns about terrorism have also changed daily life. In 2020, I canceled plans to lead a group to the Holy Land because of safety risks. This is just one example among many trips and plans disrupted by threats, even within the United States.
Anxiety is not the core problem. Tariffs, taxes, and terror are at the root. Anxiety works like a smoke detector—it warns us when something is wrong but is not the cause itself. When the alarm sounds, it signals a real issue that must be addressed.
Anxiety acts as an early warning system. It helps us prepare for possible outcomes. If a smoke detector goes off due to a low battery, you change the battery; you do not call for emergency help. In the same way, anxiety about tariffs, taxes, or terror is only helpful if it leads to useful action. There is no emergency number for anxious thoughts.
The best response is to challenge unhelpful thoughts with facts. For example, if you worry about tariffs being imposed or lifted, consider whether your concern leads to action, like contacting your representatives or increasing your savings. If not, anxiety serves no real purpose and does not help you prepare.
The Serenity Prayer offers comfort during uncertain times:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen.
Taking time to pray can bring peace of mind and point you toward practical steps.
For more support, resources like Anxiety Quest are available in print, Kindle, audio, and workbook formats at
https://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Quest-Adventures-Turning-Confidence/dp/B0C35766PV/
Anxiety Quest
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