How I Learned to Stress Less and Live More
- Jody Williams
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
I remember sitting in my parked car outside the gym one morning—it was 4:30 a.m., early, in the dead of winter.
I'd been exhausted, wired, and anxious about everything I had to do.
Business stuff.
Parenting stuff.
Inner stuff.
You know, the usual.
I'd meditated that morning, worked out, and eaten the protein—all the "right things."
And still, I felt like I was about to snap.
I sat there thinking, Why do I still feel like this if I'm doing everything I'm supposed to?
And that's when it hit me: I wasn't living—I was managing.
Managing stress.
Managing time.
Managing my damn nervous system like it was a to-do list.
That day was the beginning of a shift.
Not all at once.
Not a dramatic awakening.
But something quiet and clear:
You're not here to chase peace. You're here to create space for it.
And that space starts with presence.
Step One: PRESENCE
The medicine begins here.
Before we move forward, we come home.
Because let's be honest, no matter how good the trip is, we all want to go home at some point.
That moment when you step over the threshold, shed the world's weight and release a deep, unconscious exhale-it's a liberating act of freedom.
There is no need for performance or proof here.
It's a space of pure relaxation and relief.
You’re just being.
That's what true presence feels like. It's not just being physically present but mentally and emotionally engaged in the moment.
It's not some mystical state—it's that quiet return to yourself.
To your body.
To your breath.
To the place inside you that's always waiting for you to come home.
Prompt:What sensations can you feel right now—without judging or fixing anything? Let yourself be exactly where you are. That's where your life begins again.
Presence is like switching off autopilot mid-flight.
Suddenly, you realize you’ve been moving but not arriving.
Step Two: PEACE
Peace doesn't come from escape. It comes from arriving.
Once we settle into presence, something sacred happens.
The nervous system starts to unwind, and the noise gets quieter.
And underneath the fear, anxiety, and mental chatter…a deep stillness has always been there, just waiting for us.
Not forced.
Not fabricated.
Just felt.
This is where people often cry in session. Not because something's wrong, but because for the first time in a long time…nothing is.
Prompt:Where does peace live in your body today? If you can't find it—breathe and ask, "What would peace feel like right now?"
Even imagining it can begin the shift.
Peace is like a warm bath for your nervous system.
You didn’t realize how tense you were until you finally softened.
Step Three: PURPOSE
Not as a goal, but as a state of alignment.
Here's the part most people try to skip—and I get it.
We all want to "find our purpose, " but purpose isn't something you chase.
It's something you tune into.
And when you're present and at peace, you begin to hear it.
Sometimes it's loud:
"You need to make that call.""You were made for this."
But more often, it's subtle:
"Take care of yourself today.""Be kind to your daughter.""Write the damn post."
Purpose doesn't always look like a life mission. Sometimes it's just knowing what matters right now and aligning your energy with it.
It could be as simple as taking a break when you're feeling overwhelmed, or as significant as making a difficult but necessary decision.
It doesn't have to be big. It just has to be true.
Prompt: What is one thing your heart is asking you to do today that would feel like integrity?
Purpose is like the gravity that pulls you back to yourself.
Even when you drift, it keeps calling you home.
Final Thoughts
We've been taught to live from the outside in.
We must find purpose first, then pursue peace, and maybe we'll feel present.
But I've found it's the other way around.
Presence leads to peace. Peace leads to purpose.
And purpose? It leads to a life that feels good to live.
That's how I've learned to stress less and live more.
And the best part?
You don't have to change your whole life to start.
Just change how you meet this moment.
Let that be enough for today.
🔥 I'm currently accepting ONE new 1:1 coaching client—someone ready to come home to themselves, build emotional resilience, and stop living in survival mode. If that’s you, reach out.
🧘♂️ And if you need support, you can feel in your bones—I’m also offering custom “NeuroAwakening” Meditations—crafted just for you, infused with intention, healing, and nervous system regulation.
Also, watch for my new course, From Stress Less. Live More is coming soon. It’s a 60-day nervous system reset for people ready to reclaim their peace, purpose, and power—from the inside out.
Let’s work together.
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