Finding Stillness Amidst Chaos: Yoga Wisdom for Turbulent Times

Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita on Maintaining Inner Peace in the Face of Uncertainty

If you watch the news or listen to conversations behind you in line at the store, you’ll hear fear—woven into voices, reflected in word choices, spilling into the topics people are discussing. Fear is being plastered across social media, echoed in podcasts, and aired on YouTube videos. Why? Because fear captures attention. It keeps us on high alert, waiting for the next big shockwave. We are in changing times, and where there is change, there is fear. The two seem to dance the tango together—very dramatic, very intense. (Somebody cue the suspenseful music!)

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to join the dance. You can be the person at the party who politely declines and sits in the corner sipping tea, radiating calm while everyone else twirls into a frenzy.

The Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita: A Guide for Modern Uncertainty

The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient yogic text, was written thousands of years ago, but its wisdom is more relevant than ever. This sacred dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna unfolds on a battlefield, an apt metaphor for our current times. Arjuna, overwhelmed with doubt and fear, stands frozen, unable to move forward. Sound familiar? (Honestly, Arjuna was having a full-on existential crisis, and who among us hasn’t had one of those?)

Krishna’s response to Arjuna isn’t to confirm his fears but to guide him toward clarity and inner peace. One of the core teachings of the Gita is that peace doesn’t come from controlling the external world—it comes from mastering the internal one. We can’t stop change, but we can change how we respond to it.

1. The Mind is the Battlefield

Krishna explains that our greatest enemy isn’t out there in the world; it’s the restless, fearful mind. In chapter six, verse five, he says:

“Let a man lift himself by himself; let him not degrade himself; for the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.”

Translation? If we let our minds run wild with fear, we become our own worst enemies. But if we learn to steady ourselves, we become our own best allies. (Basically, your mind is like an overly dramatic reality TV show—it needs a calm producer to step in and restore order.)

2. Detachment from the Outcome

One of the most powerful lessons in the Bhagavad Gita is the idea of acting without attachment to results. Krishna tells Arjuna:

“You have a right to perform your duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.” (BG 2.47)

We can take action, vote, speak out, show up—but we can’t control everything. If we attach our happiness to a specific outcome, we set ourselves up for suffering. But if we stay committed to our values and let go of the outcome, we remain at peace no matter what happens. (Think of it like baking cookies—you can mix the dough, set the oven, and hope for the best, but if you spend the whole time staring at them, demanding they rise perfectly, you’ll just stress yourself out. And maybe burn the cookies.)

3. Yoga as a Path to Inner Stillness

Yoga, as Krishna describes, is not just about physical postures—it’s a state of being. He defines yoga as:

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” (BG 6.20)

This means that yoga is ultimately about coming home to yourself, cultivating inner steadiness even when the world around you is shaking. (And no, you don’t have to be able to balance on one foot for five minutes to achieve this—though bonus points if you can!)

A Practice to Cultivate Inner Stillness: The Yoga of Presence

So how do we step off the rollercoaster of fear and into a place of peace? Here’s a simple but powerful practice inspired by the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Grounding Breath & Awareness Practice

1. Find a Comfortable Seat: Sit down somewhere quiet. You don’t need a meditation cushion or fancy setup—just a place where you feel at ease. (Your couch totally counts.)

2. Close Your Eyes & Breathe Deeply: Inhale slowly through your nose, hold for a moment, and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this three times. Bonus points if you let out a dramatic sigh.

3. Feel Your Feet on the Ground: Whether you’re sitting cross-legged or with feet flat on the floor, press down slightly to feel the support of the earth beneath you. Mother Earth’s got you.

4. Observe Your Thoughts: Notice what’s swirling in your mind. Is it fear? Worry? Frustration? Acknowledge it without judgment. (Imagine you’re watching a parade of your thoughts—wave politely but don’t jump on the float.)

5. Shift to the Present: Ask yourself: “What is actually happening right now, in this exact moment?” Often, the present moment is much calmer than the chaotic thoughts about the future.

6. Repeat a Mantra: Choose a phrase that anchors you, such as “I am steady,” “I choose peace,” or Krishna’s words: “I am beyond fear.”

7. Open Your Eyes with Intention: Before moving on with your day, set an intention to carry this inner steadiness with you. Maybe even smile at yourself—you just did some serious yogic work.

The Ripple Effect of Inner Peace

When we cultivate stillness within ourselves, we don’t just benefit personally—we influence those around us. If one person in a room is calm while everyone else is panicking, their calmness can spread. The same is true in our families, our workplaces, and our communities. (You could be the human equivalent of a warm cup of tea. How great is that?)

Choosing Stillness in the Storm

Yes, the world is uncertain. Yes, change is happening. But we don’t have to live in fear. Yoga, meditation, and the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita offer us a path to inner peace, no matter what’s happening around us.

So the next time you hear fear in a conversation behind you at the store, take a deep breath. Remember that fear may be contagious, but so is peace. Choose to be the one who spreads stillness instead.

“Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure.” (BG 2.48)

The world needs more people who can hold steady in the storm. Be one of them. And maybe get yourself a cup of tea while you’re at it.