It’s hard to read the news these days without feeling concern for Canada’s future. An irreverent and self-interested American president can affect retirement planning, the rule of law and even international borders.
If you’ve been unusually stressed these days, you aren’t alone—most of my clients feel the same way, and so do I. Your anxiety doesn’t make you crazy, nor does your determination to persevere. Your anger is valid but, I will add, so are your hope and optimism.
Because I believe that disengagement and ignorance are the very things that have led to our current situation, I do not advise disengaging civically or ceasing to read hard journalism, as I’ve often heard recommended.
Instead, I’ve thought hard about how to stay calm in the face of an uncertain future. Visualization exercises or breathing techniques are not a practical solution—I’m the sort of hypnotist who would rather ground you in reassuring or empowering truths than to have you escape reality. So let’s stay grounded in what we know.
How have I managed in the past?
One lens I’ve adopted is a backward focus: How have I dealt with similarly world-altering events in the past? Let’s take a trip down memory lane…
- In 2001, when I was a student at the University of Toronto and not yet old enough to drink, I watched two airplanes destroy the World Trade Towers in NYC. The world changed dramatically on that day. I did what I could (study, socialize and learn how to handle my new adult responsibilities), and three years later, I completed my degree on schedule.
- In 2008, during the Global Financial Crisis, I had only been in the hypnosis business for two years. I didn’t have a reference point for “normal” and no money to speak of, so I kept growing my practice during this time. The next year, when unemployment was high and it became easier to hire talent, I hired my first employee and grew my business from there. Since then, I have never laid off a single employee due to shortage of work.
- In 2016, when Trump was elected as President of United States of America, the world changed again. I helped a number of clients who were experiencing “Trump anxiety” for the first time, and in my personal life, I decided to avoid travel to the United States until the political situation normalized. Four years later, it seemed that the Republic would be safe.
- In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started, the Ontario government forced a shutdown of in-person services, along with my favourite establishments in the neighbourhood. I bought a lot of N95 respirators, bleach and dried foods, and pivoted to online services. Two and a half years later, I quintupled my office space (and commensurately, my rent) to place a bet on the resumption of in-person services, and to build a community post-pandemic. That’s where I am today.
If you’re reading this, you’ve lived through most if not all of these world-altering events, too. You’ve also survived them, using all the intellect, perceptiveness and adaptivity of a modern human being. Whatever’s next, I am confident that you will survive it, and may come out stronger.
How will I manage the future?
When looking forward, I need to keep in mind that I know nothing about the future today. Except for matters that are within my control, I have never been able to predict the future with much certainty. Instead, I have lived life one day at a time, and that’s how I arrived at the present day.
Whenever I try to guess about the future, most of these guesses turn out to be wrong. Boring guesses are accurate much more often than scary guesses. Out of infinite possible universes that we might inhabit tomorrow, we’re only going to end up living in one of them, and it’s almost certainly going to be the mundane one.
Take, for example, the “day one” tariffs that Trump threatened. When his inauguration came and went, no tariffs were announced. Then, he signed an order for tariffs to start on February 1. That date was pushed back by 30 days, thanks in part to a prompt response by the Canadian government. Now we’re supposed to be facing tariffs in March, but who knows what will happen when the time comes.
Responsible adults are permitted to live one day at a time, trust what they see with their own eyes, and not to worry preemptively.
When you do think about the future, plan for things that you control, not the things you don’t. So allocate your investments in a way that makes you feel secure (in consultation with your financial advisor), vote with your wallet if you can’t vote with the franchise, and connect with people in your community who share your values and priorities. This is the kind of planning that makes an impact.
Finally, remember to take care of yourself. If you need me for anything, please do reach out.
To hear my latest thoughts on where we might be able to find reassuring truths in a chaotic world, the easiest ways to engage are my How to Be an Adult podcast (free monthly episodes) and The Self-Actualizers Club (four live events every week, half-price for the first 50 Founding Members).
Luke founded The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis in 2006 after receiving an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. His approach is client- and solution-focused, brief and humanistic. You can learn more about his life philosophy through the social media links below.