256. Fear. Tariffs and the Mind Stuff.

Welcome to the week—and welcome back to My Daily Thread, where we look for snippets of wisdom in the Yoga Sūtras and anchor them into the real moments of our lives.

We’re especially grateful you’re here today. In the light of current events—and for those listening in the future, we hope you still find relevance—this moment in time has been marked by global tension. The sitting American president has just imposed tariffs on key trading partners, shaking the stock markets and sparking anxiety worldwide. And while the headlines shout “crisis,” we pause to say, “Shake it up!” Because in yoga, this is our practice—not the perfect pose, but learning to navigate life with grace and presence when fear arises.

In moments like this, we return to what matters. If we get nothing else from our yoga journey, let it be this: yoga is not Instagram-worthy poses or boutique activewear. Yoga is the steady cultivation of clarity and inner freedom.

Fear is primal. Our amygdala is wired to scan for threats—it’s what helped our ancestors survive. But now, many of us live in a loop of chronic stress, reacting to perceived threats with anxiety and contraction. Yoga, at its core, teaches us how to work with that.

As Patañjali wrote in Yoga Sūtra 1.2:
yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.

And this week, we continue our exploration of the Sādhana Pāda, turning our attention to Yoga Sūtra 2.22:
kṛtārthaṁ prati naṣṭam apy anaṣṭaṁ tad anya-sādhāraṇatvāt
Although for the one who has fulfilled the purpose of life, the world has ceased to exist, it still remains for others because it is common to all.

This verse reminds us that the world, prakṛti, exists for the sake of the Seer—puruṣa. Once the Seer has realized the Self and obtained liberation, the world no longer binds or distracts them. But the world doesn’t disappear—it continues to exist because it still serves the journey of others.

When we talk about applying this sutra practically, the work becomes very real and very immediate.

We can begin by practicing letting go. Letting go without bitterness or resentment. Letting go of the idea that we always need to understand everything or control every outcome. Whether it’s a relationship, a job, a belief, or an old pattern of behavior—if it has served its purpose, it’s okay to let it go. We don’t need to drag the weight of the past behind us. Blaming and complaining don’t help. Everyone is on their own journey. Can we let go with a grateful heart? Can we also let go of our impatience—our need for things to change on our timeline?

The next layer of this practice is to avoid spiritual arrogance. Just because we’ve had a breakthrough doesn’t make us superior. True wisdom is always humble. Some of the most evolved beings, like Mother Teresa, had no interest in labeling themselves enlightened. Instead, they quietly lived out their practice through compassion and service.

Then, there’s the importance of not rushing to the end goal. Obstacles are not in the way; they are the way. They have something to teach us. Our inner evolution cannot be forced. It’s organic. Allow it to unfold. Allow yourself to be in the messy middle.

And finally, we stay lovingly engaged in the world. We’re not ascetics hiding in caves—we’re householders. We live in this world. We participate in it. But we do so with awareness, compassion, and care. That means watching not just the thoughts in our mind, but the words that leave our lips. Charles Fillmore, in his book Prosperity, wrote that our words have power. They can create fear—or they can en-courage. They can move us toward courageous action. We get to choose which ones we speak.

So, in a time of uncertainty, may we ground ourselves in clarity. May we meet fear with understanding. And may we remember that everything in our lives—yes, even a stock market crash—can become part of our path, if we choose to see it that way.