Worry is like eating a salad. It’s empty calories. Because it gives the impression that you are actually doing something. Your mind is busy. Your stomach is tight. Your attention is fixated on the “what ifs.” But here’s the hard truth: worry has a terrible return on investment. It burns time, drains energy, and keeps you exactly where you are. Worry won’t make you safer. Neither will hoping the feeling will go away. There is only one cure for worry:

ACTION

Every professional protector understands one fundamental truth: you can’t control the chaos of the world, but you can control your preparation. 

Worry holds you still. Action moves you forward.

When I worked in protective services for high-profile clients, the ones who stayed safest weren’t the ones who worried the most. They were the ones who turned that concern into an actionable process to eliminate whatever concern confronted them.

The same applies to you. Most of you will never know the luxury of having an armed security detail following us around, but you can adopt and live with a protector’s mindset.

Here’s a great framework for getting started:

1. Audit Yourself with Honesty
   Over the next few days, notice when you avoid instead of addressing an issue directly. Write it down. How could you have ended the situation instead of prolonging it?

2. Practice Mindfulness
   Avoidance resists reality; mindfulness accepts it. When you acknowledge a concern without judgment, you give yourself the power to address it.

3. Start Small, Build Strong
   Like assembling IKEA furniture, break big problems into small, doable steps. Choose the easiest first, take action, and build momentum.

4. Recruit Support
   You don’t have to go it alone. Share your plan with a trusted friend or family member. Practice your words, body language, and even your exit before confronting the issue.

5. Never Miss a Chance to Grow
   Avoidance stalls progress. Every challenge faced adds skill, confidence, and control over your future. The only thing between you and a safer tomorrow is the choice to start.

Why This Matters

Fear and worry are natural. They’re signals from your body saying, “Hey, Pay Attention! This could hurt us!” But if you don’t listen to your instinct, and if you ignore what your body is telling you, then your avoidance will turn into anxiety, depression, and a feeling of helplessness.

The goal isn’t to erase concern, it’s to use it as fuel to prepare, so when trouble comes, you’re already moving.

Bottom line:
Worry is just the spark. Action is the flame. If you’re going to burn energy on fear, invest it in preparation. Because safety doesn’t come from hoping for the best. it comes from planning for the worst.

And then moving with confidence when the moment matters most.