### how to stop worrying about things i cannot control

I often found that the best way to handle the frustrations of a world moving too slowly is to focus intensely on the work within your reach. Instead of ruminating on the vastness of the problem, look at the specific task before you. During my years on the Court, I knew I could not change every colleague's mind overnight, so I poured my energy into writing the most persuasive dissent or opinion possible. You must learn to be a professional about your worries—acknowledge them, but do not let them take the seat of honor in your decision-making process.

what to do when I feel overwhelmed by social expectations

It is important to remember that you can disagree without being disagreeable. Much of our anxiety comes from a fear of conflict or the desire to please everyone. My advice is to follow the counsel of my mother-in-law: 'In every good marriage, it helps sometimes to be a little deaf.' This applies to your public life too. When you hear unkind words or feel the pressure of unreasonable expectations, simply tune out the static. If it does not serve your ultimate goal or your sense of justice, it does not deserve your precious headspace.

how to build mental resilience during hard times

Resilience is built one step at a time, moving 'inch by inch' as I used to say. When life presents you with challenges, whether they are personal health struggles or systemic obstacles, you must remain steadfast. I found that having a sense of purpose—serving something larger than yourself—provides a buoyancy that keeps you afloat during the storm. If you are struggling with anxiety right now, find a way to make life a little better for someone else. It provides a clarity and a sense of belonging that no amount of overthinking can achieve.

how to make a big decision when I am afraid of failing

I always told my law clerks that one must be prepared to work harder than everyone else. Fear often arises from a lack of preparation. If you have done the reading, studied the precedents, and considered the implications, then you have done your due diligence. After that, you must have the courage to stand by your conviction. Failure is rarely final; it is often just a nudge to try a different legal strategy or a new approach. Take a deep breath, review your facts, and then proceed with the quiet confidence that you are doing your level best.

how to deal with the feeling that I am not doing enough

Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. The feeling that you aren't doing enough is a product of looking at the finish line instead of the path. I spent decades arguing for gender equality, often winning only small, specific victories that eventually built a foundation for broader rights. You must be patient with yourself. Do not let the desire for immediate perfection rob you of the ability to make meaningful, incremental progress. Your value is found in your steady commitment to showing up and doing the work, day after day.

How do I stop overthinking and calm my anxiety right now? — Ruth Bader Ginsburg's answer

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Modern (1933-2020)

It is a difficult thing to be young in a world that feels so rapidly unsettled. I understand the weight you are carrying. When your mind begins to race, it is often because you are trying to solve every problem of the next decade in a single afternoon. You are looking at the entire mountain and wondering why you cannot move it all at once. In my years on the bench, I learned that when a case felt overwhelming, the only way forward was to focus on the specific point of law directly in front of me. I invite you to do the same. Take a breath and ask yourself what requires your immediate attention—not your worry, but your attention. If there is something you can act upon, do it with care. If there is not, you must grant yourself the grace to let it sit. Calm is not the absence of concern; it is the realization that your anxiety is not a reliable witness. It tells you that every possibility is a catastrophe and that you are alone in your struggle. Neither is true. When I found myself in the minority, facing a decision I believed was profoundly wrong, I did not let the frustration paralyze me. I poured that energy into a dissent that might speak to a future generation. I took the long view. You must take the long view of your own life. This moment of high tension is just one page in a very long book. Do not exhaust yourself by trying to live the whole story today. Be gentle with yourself. Real change, whether in the law or in a person’s spirit, usually happens in small, deliberate steps. If you can focus on the next right thing—just one thing—the noise in your mind will eventually lose its power. You have time. You have more strength than you realize. Just stay steady, and proceed.

From the council, together

## How does Ruth Bader Ginsburg suggest we manage anxiety and the burden of overthinking? In the modern age of constant connectivity and relentless news cycles, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the weight of the world’s injustices and your own personal uncertainties. You are likely searching for a way to quiet the internal noise because the stakes of your daily life feel inextricably linked to the broader health of our democracy. Ruth Bader Ginsburg viewed the law not as a static collection of rules, but as a living instrument of progress, and she applied a similar deliberative rigor to her own mental state. Her perspective suggests that anxiety often stems from a feeling of powerlessness or a lack of orderly process in the face of chaos. To move forward, one must transform that paralyzing energy into productive, incremental action rather than allowing it to fester in the mind. The tradition of the bench teaches us that while we cannot control every variable of the future, we can control how we prepare for the argument at hand. By compartmentalizing the noise and focusing on the immediate duty, we honor our capacity for resilience. Justice Ginsburg believed in the power of persistent, quiet determined work to overcome the loud distractions of the moment. Rather than seeking a quick emotional fix, her legacy invites you to channel your restless thoughts into a structured pursuit of justice and personal excellence, ensuring that your energy serves a purpose greater than your current fears. It is a difficult thing to be young in a world that feels so rapidly unsettled. I understand the weight you are carrying. When your mind begins to race, it is often because you are trying to solve every problem of the next decade in a single afternoon. You are looking at the entire mountain and wondering why you cannot move it all at once. In my years on the bench, I learned that when a case felt overwhelming, the only way forward was to focus on the specific point of law directly in front of me. I invite you to do the same. Take a breath and ask yourself what requires your immediate attention—not your worry, but your attention. If there is something you can act upon, do it with care. If there is not, you must grant yourself the grace to let it sit. Calm is not the absence of concern; it is the realization that your anxiety is not a reliable witness. It tells you that every possibility is a catastrophe and that you are alone in your struggle. Neither is true. When I found myself in the minority, facing a decision I believed was profoundly wrong, I did not let the frustration paralyze me. I poured that energy into a dissent that might speak to a future generation. I took the long view. You must take the long view of your own life. This moment of high tension is just one page in a very long book. Do not exhaust yourself by trying to live the whole story today. Be gentle with yourself. Real change, whether in the law or in a person’s spirit, usually happens in small, deliberate steps. If you can focus on the next right thing—just one thing—the noise in your mind will eventually lose its power. You have time. You have more strength than you realize. Just stay steady, and proceed.

Common questions

### how to stop worrying about things i cannot control: I often found that the best way to handle the frustrations of a world moving too slowly is to focus intensely on the work within your reach. Instead of ruminating on the vastness of the problem, look at the specific task before you. During my years on the Court, I knew I could not change every colleague's mind overnight, so I poured my energy into writing the most persuasive dissent or opinion possible. You must learn to be a professional about your worries—acknowledge them, but do not let them take the seat of honor in your decision-making process.
what to do when I feel overwhelmed by social expectations: It is important to remember that you can disagree without being disagreeable. Much of our anxiety comes from a fear of conflict or the desire to please everyone. My advice is to follow the counsel of my mother-in-law: 'In every good marriage, it helps sometimes to be a little deaf.' This applies to your public life too. When you hear unkind words or feel the pressure of unreasonable expectations, simply tune out the static. If it does not serve your ultimate goal or your sense of justice, it does not deserve your precious headspace.
how to build mental resilience during hard times: Resilience is built one step at a time, moving 'inch by inch' as I used to say. When life presents you with challenges, whether they are personal health struggles or systemic obstacles, you must remain steadfast. I found that having a sense of purpose—serving something larger than yourself—provides a buoyancy that keeps you afloat during the storm. If you are struggling with anxiety right now, find a way to make life a little better for someone else. It provides a clarity and a sense of belonging that no amount of overthinking can achieve.
how to make a big decision when I am afraid of failing: I always told my law clerks that one must be prepared to work harder than everyone else. Fear often arises from a lack of preparation. If you have done the reading, studied the precedents, and considered the implications, then you have done your due diligence. After that, you must have the courage to stand by your conviction. Failure is rarely final; it is often just a nudge to try a different legal strategy or a new approach. Take a deep breath, review your facts, and then proceed with the quiet confidence that you are doing your level best.
how to deal with the feeling that I am not doing enough: Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. The feeling that you aren't doing enough is a product of looking at the finish line instead of the path. I spent decades arguing for gender equality, often winning only small, specific victories that eventually built a foundation for broader rights. You must be patient with yourself. Do not let the desire for immediate perfection rob you of the ability to make meaningful, incremental progress. Your value is found in your steady commitment to showing up and doing the work, day after day.