Panic caused cold chills to rush down my body. Fear disguised itself as anxiety, and within seconds I broke out into a sweat. In that moment, I was convinced I wasn’t going to be okay.
Have you ever felt that way? Maybe your chest tightens, your thoughts race, and you wonder how you’ll ever make it through. For me, these moments usually come when I slip back into a mindset of scarcity—the belief that I won’t have enough of what I need. This fear shows up in unexpected places: while organizing an event, when I get lost in a new city, when I’m faced with a difficult task, or even when I’m trying to fix something broken around the house.
Yet every single time, my fear is proven wrong. I remember standing on a crowded street in a foreign country, fumbling with a parking meter that refused to accept my payment. Panic started to rise. Then, out of nowhere, a kind couple walked by. They spoke perfect English and patiently explained how to use the parking app. To me, they were angels in disguise.
Other times, reassurance comes in subtler ways. Once, in a moment of panic, a feather appeared on my path. For me, feathers have long carried spiritual meaning, reminding me that I’m not alone and that God has sent His angels to watch over me. In seasons of grief, I’ve glanced at the clock and seen 11:11 glowing back at me—a simple but powerful reminder that there is a higher purpose at work, even when I cannot see it.
These reminders help me anchor myself to two truths. The first is that life is an adventure. When I frame it this way, wrong turns, frustrating challenges, and difficult obstacles become less threatening. They are part of the journey, shaping me in ways comfort never could. The second truth is that I can’t possibly do life “wrong.” Every choice I make opens a door to learning or growth, and if I don’t like where I’ve ended up, I can always choose again. This perspective frees me from the grip of perfectionism that so often fuels my fear.
Fear is the opposite of faith. Anxiety loses its power in the presence of love. Scarcity dissolves when I remember the abundance already in my life. I still stumble into moments of panic—I am human, after all. But the difference now is knowing I have a choice. I can spiral deeper into fear, or I can pause, breathe, and turn back toward faith, love, and abundance.
I choose the latter. And every time I do, peace finds its way back to me.