JoeyJoelle

This post is about something that has been bothering me lately. Namely how fear might actually be one of the most powerful forces shaping many of our decisions today.

Not love. Not purpose. Not ambition. Fear.

And not in the most obvious ways that we’re familiar with. Instead it shows up through urgency. Or the most undercover form of fear: productivity. Ambition driven by the primal parts of our brain, telling us that “if we don’t do this now, we will regret it forever.”

But because we are “getting ahead”, we are not noticing that our we are not moving from purpose. We are surviving.

A few days ago, I heard this video on social media discussing proposed tax changes that may be implemented in 2028. The way this person was getting her message across was dramatic. Her message was if you wanted to leave the Netherlands, build wealth internationally, or secure your future, you had to act now. You only had two years left. Time was running out.

And for two seconds, I felt that small spark of panic of already being behind. That if I didn’t immediately start making major life decisions, I would somehow miss my opportunity of moving to Curacao forever.

Until I remembered that many of these content creators unfortunately are thriving on fear.

So, instead of immediately following her advice, I took my time and researched.

Fear Doesn’t Want You To Research

After further research, I discovered that while there may indeed be changes coming, they primarily affect people with substantial assets, multiple properties, major investments, and large capital holdings.

Now, yes, if you’re someone like me who dreams of financial freedom, building wealth, and perhaps one day becoming one of those people with substantial assets, then technically these developments could eventually affect you too.

But there is a massive difference between preparing for a future possibility and panicking about a present reality that doesn’t actually apply to your current situation.

Because if you’re part of the middle class, or you’re still building your financial foundation, hearing a message like “you only have two years left” in the middle of 2026 can be triggering. Suddenly, you’re no longer making decisions based on strategy or wisdom. You’re making decisions because your nervous system believes there is a tiger in the room.

That’s the thing about fear: it doesn’t leave much room for nuance or context, and it sure as hell doesn’t encourage you to pause and double-check what you’re hearing. Instead, it pushes you to act right away, before you’ve had a chance to think things through.

Social Media Has Become A Marketplace Of Fear

I know this may sound controversial, but I genuinely feel that social media has become one of the largest fear-distribution networks we’ve come to know.

Every day, we’re told that we’re running out of time.

And if you don’t? Apparently, you might as well be dead.

The interesting thing is that fear creates one very predictable outcome: consumption.

When we’re afraid, we buy courses because we’re scared of being left behind or because we believe we’re not good enough. We invest in products that can enhance our appearance because we’re scared we might end up alone. We consume content because we’re scared we’re missing information that could impact our future.

And as we have already come to understand is that fear creates urgency. Urgency creates spending and spending fuels capitalism.

I highly recommend reading this article on the psychology of spending.

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Now, I am not saying that we shouldn’t indulge in some shopping. Y’all know I love to treat myself. What I’m trying to say is that fear is incredibly profitable. Perhaps one of the most profitable human emotions there is.

Because a calm and secure person is much harder to sell to.

Fear Lives In The Reptile Brain

There is a reason fear works so effectively.

When we perceive danger, whether it’s a physical threat or an Instagram reel convincing us there’s no hope for the future, our brain doesn’t always distinguish between the two. As a result we slip into survival mode where our rational thinking steps aside and our more primitive, instinct-driven responses take over, pushing us toward fight, flight, freeze, or immediate action without reflection.

In that heightened state, we stop asking questions, we stop researching, we stop discerning, and instead we react impulsively, which becomes especially problematic when we consider that some of the most important decisions of our lives, such as where we live, who we become, what we invest in, and what career we pursue, should never be made from a place of panic or urgency. Fear can certainly serve a purpose by alerting us to potential danger, but it is ultimately an irrational leader, and while it may sound the alarm, it should never be the one driving the car.

Discernment Is A Spiritual Practice

One of the most important skills we can build in modern life is discernment.

Not cynicism or paranoia, but the ability to pause and really think about what we’re taking in. We should ask ourselves who actually benefits from us believing something. What real evidence is there beyond the surface; are we responding to solid facts or just the emotional way those facts are being presented? Also is the information we’re consuming helping us grow wiser or simply making us more anxious?

And maybe most importantly, we should take a minute and wonder: would still make the same choice if fear wasn’t part of the equation?

I genuinely believe that discernment has become a spiritual practice in our current age because we are exposed to thousands of opinions every single day. Everyone is certain. Everyone is urgent. Everyone has the “one truth” that will supposedly save your life and they will share it with you, if you comment “lifesaving”.

How about we close the app and take a minute to think for ourselves?

Slow Down To Hear Your Healthy Mind

I’ve noticed that some of the best decisions I’ve ever made were not made quickly.

Nowadays, when I feel my decisions being motivated by anxiety, I pause. Albeit by napping, prayer or meditating. I act after I allowed my nervous system to settle down enough for my actual wisdom to speak.

Because underneath the fear, underneath the panic and the social media noise, there is a healthier inner voice that knows how to lead.

And though that voice is full of wisdom, it’ s quiet. You cannot hear your inner wisdom when you’re running.

Should we ignore warnings or stop preparing for the future? No.

But we should refuse to let fear make our decisions for us. Because fear may be an excellent alarm system. But it has always been a terrible leader.