Most things don’t matter
Most of the things we stress about don’t actually matter. But in the moment, they feel like they do. The offhand comment that lingers in your mind. The email that rubbed you the wrong way. The plans that didn’t go exactly as expected. These small things take up more space in our heads than they deserve.
Days go by, and we barely notice how much energy we spend overthinking, replaying, and holding onto things that won’t even cross our minds a month from now. Meanwhile, the things that do matter—our relationships, our health, our sense of purpose—get pushed aside. Not because we don’t care about them, but because we’re too caught up in distractions. We tell ourselves we’ll make time later, once we’ve handled everything else, but "everything else" never really ends. There’s always something demanding our attention, something that feels urgent but isn’t actually important.
The truth is, most of what we worry about resolves itself. Conversations fade. Situations change. People move on. And even if things don’t completely disappear, our perspective shifts. What feels overwhelming today will likely feel insignificant when we look back on it. But in the moment, we don’t think that way. We react, we get stuck in our heads, and we waste time stressing over things that won’t matter in the long run.
What if we let go of the small stuff faster? What if, instead of obsessing over what went wrong, we put that energy into something better? A walk outside. A deep conversation. A moment of stillness.
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day chaos, but when you take a step back, you realize how little of it actually matters. The moments that do—the ones that shape you, that bring you joy, that give your life meaning—aren’t the ones spent worrying about minor inconveniences or replaying things you can’t change. They’re the ones spent being present, appreciating the people around you, and doing things that make you feel alive.
Next time you feel overwhelmed by something, ask yourself: Will I even remember this next year? Will it matter in the grand scheme of my life? If not, why waste so much time on it now?
There’s always going to be something pulling for your attention, but you get to choose what actually deserves it. Focus on what lasts—loving, learning, appreciating, and doing things that bring you joy. Spend as much time on this earth doing the things you love and thinking about the things you care about as possible.
