12 Rules I Follow When Life Feels Out of Control

There are moments when life feels like it's unraveling.

An unexpected loss. A job that doesn’t feel secure. A relationship that’s shifting. A world that seems too loud, too fast, and too full of unknowns.

I’ve been there—more times than I’d like to admit. In those moments, when everything feels shaky, I’ve learned to return to a handful of simple truths. I call them my rules, though they’re really more like gentle reminders—anchors that keep me grounded when the storm rolls in.

These are the 12 rules I follow when life feels out of control. Maybe they’ll speak to you, too.

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1. Breathe First, React Later

When things go sideways, my first instinct used to be panic. Now, I’ve trained myself to pause and take a full breath before doing anything. It’s incredible how even one moment of stillness can change what comes next.

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2. Protect Your Peace Like It’s Your Job

Not every argument is worth having. Not every opinion needs a response. I’ve learned to walk away from what drains me. Peace is precious, and in chaos, it becomes sacred.

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3. Limit the Noise

When I feel overwhelmed, I turn down the volume on the world. Less news. Fewer notifications. Quieter spaces. It’s not denial—it’s self-preservation. Clarity needs room to breathe.

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4. Stick to Small Routines

I may not be able to fix the world, but I can make my bed. I can drink water, go for a short walk, or tidy my kitchen. Small routines remind me that I still have control over something—and that’s often enough to keep going.

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5. Feel What You Feel, Then Let It Flow

Shoving emotions down doesn’t make them disappear—it just gives them power. When life feels too much, I let myself cry. I journal. I speak the fear out loud. And when it’s named, it loses some of its grip.

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6. Call Someone Who Feels Like Home

Sometimes all I need is to hear the voice of someone who knows me beyond the chaos. A friend. A sibling. My mom. Not for solutions—just for presence. Connection heals in ways silence never can.

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7. Don’t Expect Clarity in the Middle of the Storm

I used to demand answers right away. Now I remind myself that storms are messy and dark and confusing. That’s normal. Clarity will come—but only after the winds settle.

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8. Be Gentle With Yourself

I don’t need to have it all together. I don’t need to perform strength. I just need to keep showing up. Some days, survival is success. And that’s okay.

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9. Move Your Body, Even Just a Little

When I feel stuck in my head, I try to move—even if it’s just a stretch or a walk around the block. My body carries emotions, too. Movement releases what words can’t.

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10. Lower the Bar, Not the Standard

I don’t expect perfection in chaos. I just aim for consistency. My best today might not look like my best last week. But I still show up. I still try. That’s enough.

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11. Find One Good Thing

Even on the hardest days, I search for something good: the way the sun hits the wall. The taste of warm tea. A kind message from a friend. Gratitude doesn’t erase pain, but it makes room for light.

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12. Remind Yourself: This Won’t Last Forever

Everything changes. The hard things. The good things. All of it. When life feels out of control, I whisper, “This is a moment, not your forever.” And somehow, that helps me hold on.

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The Lesson:

Life will always have seasons of chaos. That’s part of being human. But you are not powerless in the storm.

You don’t have to fix everything. You don’t have to be unshakable. You just have to find the habits, thoughts, and people that keep you tethered to something steady.

Even the smallest rule—followed with intention—can become an anchor.

And with enough anchors, you can weather anything.

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Thank you for reading...

Regards: Fazal Hadi