Turn on the TV, scroll through your phone… and it’s there. It’s easy to feel LA riots scared when you turn on the news and see a constant stream of flashing lights and angry crowds, but you are not alone in this feeling.
I know that feeling intimately.
I’ve felt it staring out the open door of an airplane at 15,000 feet, my brain screaming every reason not to jump. I felt it when I stared at the resignation letter that would end my “safe” corporate career, a leap into a future with no guarantees.
It’s the fear of the unknown, of losing control. When the world outside feels like it’s in freefall, your own mind can quickly follow. But the most important thing I’ve learned on my journey is this: you have more control than you think. Not over the riots, not over the news – but over the one thing that truly matters. Your inner state.
Let’s get brutally honest about how to protect your peace when chaos is trending.
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The LA Riots Scared You? Here's Why It's So Personal
Let’s be clear. Your anxiety is not an overreaction. It’s your brain doing exactly what it was designed to do. It’s a survival machine, and when it sees images of unrest, danger, and societal breakdown, its primal software kicks into high gear.
It screams: “DANGER! The world is unpredictable! Hunker down! Be afraid!”
That feeling of powerlessness is real. It’s designed to keep you safe. But in the modern world, where the danger is being streamed to your phone 24/7, that survival instinct can hijack your entire life. It can trap you in a cycle of fear and anxiety over things happening hundreds or thousands of miles away.
The Limitless Way: You Can’t Control the Storm, But You Can Become the Calm in the Middle of It
Here’s the thing they don’t tell you when you’re glued to the screen: You cannot control the riots. You cannot control the news cycle. You cannot control what happens next on a societal level.
But you have absolute, 100% control over the space between your ears. And in a world of chaos, that is the ultimate superpower. Facing that fear and choosing your response is the entire point of the Limitless Way. It’s not about ignoring reality; it’s about refusing to let reality dictate your inner peace.
Here are the practical, no-fluff steps you can take right now.
Go on a “News Fast”
This isn’t about being ignorant; it’s about being intentional. You can stay informed without being inundated. The constant drip of sensationalized updates is designed to keep you hooked and agitated. You have to break the cycle.
Your Action: Choose specific times to check the news. Once in the morning, once in the evening. That’s it. No doom-scrolling. No, leaving the 24-hour news channel on in the background. You are choosing your inputs instead of letting them choose you.
Find Your Physical Anchor
When your mind is spinning, anchor your body. The fastest way to tell your nervous system “I am safe” is through your breath. This isn’t some hippie-dippy nonsense; it’s a direct physical command.
Your Action: The Anchor Breath.
- Sit down and close your eyes.
- Breathe in through your nose for a slow count of 4.
- Hold that breath for a count of 4.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6.
- Hold at the bottom for a count of 2.
- Repeat this 5 times. Notice how your shoulders drop. Notice how the noise in your head gets a little quieter. This is you taking back control.
Reclaim Your Space: Action Over Anxiety
Fear and anxiety thrive on a feeling of helplessness. The antidote is action – any action. It doesn’t have to be monumental. It just has to be yours.
Your Action: Choose one small, physical task and complete it. Clean your desk. Organize one drawer. Do the dishes. Water your plants. Go for a walk and focus only on the feeling of your feet on the ground. This act of bringing order to your immediate environment sends a powerful signal to your brain: “In this space, I am in control.”
The Verdict: Your Peace is Your Power
The world might stay chaotic for a while. The headlines about the LA riots might continue to be scary. That is the nature of things. But your peace, your center, does not have to be a casualty.
When I chose to leap from that plane, and when I chose to leap from my old life, I wasn’t free from fear. I simply decided that my desire to truly live was more powerful than my fear of what might happen.
You can make that same choice right now. Choosing peace in the middle of chaos isn’t passive. It’s a rebellious act of courage. It’s the most limitless thing you can do.
Your Journey to Inner Peace
The tools I’ve shared are the ones I use myself to find my center. They are your starting point. But the bravest thing anyone can do is recognize when they need more support. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of profound strength.
If you are struggling to quiet the noise and feel that the chaos is becoming overwhelming, I strongly encourage you to explore the resources offered by a dedicated mental health organization. They provide incredible support, information, and community for anyone navigating these feelings. Taking this step is a powerful, actionable choice for your own well-being.
One of the most trusted resources in the US is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Remember the Limitless Way: The most courageous leap you can ever take is the one toward taking care of yourself.
Stay strong. Stay centered.
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