Blog · 2026-10-20
Is Worry About AI Putting Your Life on Hold?
Many people are waiting for the AI future to arrive before they make plans, chase goals, or enjoy their hobbies. That waiting can feel sensible, but it is often worry in disguise. You don't need to know what the future holds to live well this week. Small steps toward what matters can get you moving again.
"I'm just on hold"
Not long ago I watched a short YouTube video by a creator named Zzenn Loren. He sat in his car and talked honestly about something that has been on my mind too. He follows AI news all the time. He feels like something huge is about to happen. And he can't seem to commit to anything until it does.
He put it simply: "I feel like I can't commit to anything until this happens. It's like I'm just on hold."
He described his passions fading. He used to chase his goals. Now he does the work he needs to pay his bills, plays video games, and keeps watching. He wondered why he should write when reading seems outdated, and why he should learn new AI skills when AI may soon be teaching itself. He even went out to buy a puzzle, looked at it, and thought, "Nah, that ain't it."
He wasn't angry or gloomy. He said he felt "a mix of excitement" and "weirdness." Then he asked his viewers if they felt the same.
Judging by the comments, a lot of people do. I hear versions of this in my office in Franklin more and more. So I want to talk about it, because I think he named something real.
When waiting starts to feel wise
Here is what I notice. When the future feels big and unclear, our minds want certainty before we move. That makes sense. Nobody wants to build a house on ground that might shift.
But there is a trap. Worry about uncertainty can quietly turn into avoidance. Avoidance means pulling back from things because they feel risky, pointless, or uncomfortable. In the short run, it brings relief. In the long run, life gets smaller.
Avoidance around AI can look like this:
- Checking the news over and over. Every new headline feels important, so you keep watching. It feels like getting ready, but mostly it keeps your nerves on high alert.
- Dropping goals and hobbies. The project, the class, or the side business gets shelved "until things settle."
- "What's the point?" thinking. Why learn this skill, write this book, or start this plan if a machine can do it soon?
- Living for "after." You tell yourself that once the big change comes, you'll know where to go.
Here is the odd part. Both hopeful and scary predictions can feed the same pattern. If you believe a golden age is coming where no one has to work, why bother now? If you believe a crash or collapse is coming, why bother now? The stories are opposite, but they lead to the same place: the couch, the screen, and the waiting.
Men, work, and the "provider" question
I work with a lot of men, and this one hits many of them hard. For many men, work is more than a paycheck. It is how they know they matter. It is how they take care of the people they love.
So when a man hears that his job, or every job, may be automated, it doesn't just raise money worries. It raises a deeper question: "If I'm not the provider, who am I?"
That question can be hard to say out loud. So it often comes out sideways, as irritability. A short fuse with the kids. Snapping at a spouse over small things. Anger at tech companies, at the news, or at himself. In my work with anger, I often find that the anger is the part people can see. Underneath it is worry, grief over a picture of life that seems to be slipping away, or a fear of not being needed.
If you have been more on edge lately and can't quite say why, this might be part of it.
How to take your life off hold
You can't control how fast AI changes the world. But you can choose how you live while it does. Here are a few tools I use with clients, drawn from mindfulness-based C.B.T. and acceptance and commitment therapy, often called ACT.
1. Notice the "waiting" story. Start by catching the thought. It might sound like, "I'll start once things settle," or "There's no point until I know what's coming." Try naming it: "There's the waiting story again." You don't have to argue with it. Just notice it. Seeing a thought as a thought gives you a little room to choose.
2. Act on your values, not on certainty. Ask yourself: "What kind of person do I want to be, no matter what happens?" Maybe it's a present dad, a loyal friend, a curious learner, or a good craftsman. Values don't depend on the future. You can live them today.
3. Put limits on AI news. Pick one or two short windows a day to catch up, and keep the rest of the day clear. Turn off alerts. Notice how you feel after scrolling. If you feel more stirred up than informed, that's useful information.
4. Take small committed actions this week. Not a five-year plan. One small step. Write one page. Call one friend. Take one walk. Sign up for one class. Small actions build momentum, and momentum is often what's missing.
5. Make a control and influence list. Draw two columns. In one, write what you can control: your sleep, your effort, how you treat people, what you learn. In the other, write what you can't: the economy, tech companies, the news. When worry spikes, look at the first column and pick one thing.
6. Do what matters whatever happens. Some things stay worth doing in any future. Time with people you love. Caring for your body with sleep, movement, and good food. Building a skill with your own hands. Faith, community, and play. None of these become pointless because a machine can do something faster.
Remember the puzzle? A puzzle isn't a contest with a computer. It's a quiet hour, maybe with someone you love. That counts.
How counseling can help
Sometimes these tools are hard to use on your own, especially when worry has been running the show for a while. Counseling gives you a place to sort it out.
In my office, we can slow down and look at what's really driving the "on hold" feeling. We can work on the worry and the restless energy in your body. If irritability or anger is spilling onto the people you love, we can build practical skills to calm down and respond in ways you won't regret. If your sense of who you are has been tied to your work, we can explore what gives your life meaning beyond your job title.
Counseling can't predict the future. But it can help you live well in the present, even when tomorrow is unclear.
You don't have to wait
Zzenn Loren ended his video by saying he didn't know where to go yet. That's honest, and a lot of us feel it. But you don't need a map of the whole future to take the next step. Life isn't on hold. It's happening right now, in the conversations, meals, projects, and small choices of this week.
If you're in Franklin or anywhere in Williamson County and you'd like help finding your footing, I'd be glad to talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to feel anxious about AI and the future?
Yes. Big, fast changes with no clear outcome are hard for anyone. Feeling uneasy doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It's what you do with the worry that matters.
How do I know if I'm avoiding or just being careful?
Being careful usually leads to some kind of action, like learning, planning, or saving. Avoidance usually leads to waiting, scrolling, and dropping things you care about. If your life is getting smaller, it may be avoidance.
Why do I feel more irritable when I think about my job and AI?
For many people, especially men, work is tied to their sense of worth. When that feels threatened, worry can show up as anger or a short temper. Noticing that link is a good first step.
Can counseling help if my worries are about the economy or technology?
Yes. Counseling won't change the economy, but it can help you manage worry, handle anger, strengthen your relationships, and act on what matters to you now.
This post is for general information only and is not therapy or medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
Source: Zzenn Loren, "The AI Revolution Is Coming… Does Anyone Else Feel Like Life Is on Hold?" (YouTube, Oct 12, 2026)
Related at Navigate Life Counseling: anxiety counseling in Franklin, TN.