Let me share something with you: every single person walking this earth carries their own chaos inside. That friend you admire? They have their chaos, too. It may not look like yours, but it’s still there. And as much as your chaos feels like the worst thing in the world, it’s not. It feels unbearable, but countless others have faced similar storms. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it’s painful. But here’s the truth: it feels like the worst because it’s yours. It is the worst, and yet, it’s not.

What you’re experiencing now is the result of years of accumulated chaos, built up brick by brick—most likely without you even realizing it. And it’s not just yours; it’s the chaos of generations before you. Thousands of ancestors struggled, fought, lost, and endured pain, all leading to this moment. You can’t ignore this part of yourself, just like you can’t ignore an open wound. If you’re bleeding inside, it demands your attention.

You might be wondering, “What if I can’t face it right now?” That’s okay. The point is not to ignore it. Acknowledge it. Give your chaos love, because it needs it too. Suppressing it only breeds more anger or fear. You might think, “I can’t handle this, it’s too painful.” That feeling? It’s fear, feeding into your circle of chaos. So what can you do?

Approach your chaos. Feel it. Breathe through it. Recognize and observe it. If it helps, write about it.

When we’re caught in inner chaos, it can feel like everything is unraveling. One crucial step we often overlook is understanding the foundation upon which our lives are built. Ask yourself: what has your life been built on?

Here’s an example. You decide to change your life. You start reading books about manifestation, follow life coaches, and apply all their advice, but nothing seems to change. The first thing you need to shift is your beliefs. Your beliefs are the foundation upon which your life rests. Sometimes, we need guidance to identify and change those beliefs—and that’s perfectly okay. Don’t give up.

Recently, while working with a client, we came across a beautiful exercise that helps shift things from the ground up. He agreed to share it, so here it is. It’s simple and doesn’t take much time. Start by drawing 30 steps.

• Each morning after you wake up, look at your drawing. On the side of one step, write a positive affirmation about yourself.
• Each night before you go to bed, write a positive reflection or something extraordinary that happened during the day at the top of the step.