Modern day perceived threats to our survival however, don't require us to fight or run (usually). They are mostly social issues like our jobs, relationships and kids. Not only that, there are now so many more things to worry about thanks to the media, marketing and politics which all inherently succeed by creating fear. A majority of the things we worry about have a low probability of danger in real life.

This built-up toxicity of unspent adrenaline accumulates in our bodies until it makes us sick. Then we worry about the physical symptoms caused by the worries such as heart palpitations. Sometimes it is very healing to just turn off the television set.

I realized that the reason people love Hawaii wasn't just the beaches or the sun. It is so isolated on the islands that all the bad news and constant worries disappear. They're no longer relevant. The pace slows down, and our motto there is "Hang Loose", holding a hand up in a fist with the pinky and thumb raised, shaking it slightly.

In the past, dangers and common enemies like famine, wolves, war or religious persecution were shared by groups, such as villages or countries. Our worries today are so fragmented that almost everyone has different fears than the person next to them. That sense of isolation in their anxieties leads to a whole different level of stress.

So how does one survive in the age of anxiety?

Look at the big picture. Keep things in perspective, rather than focusing on worst case catastrophic details. Distinguish between false alarms to your body that have a low probability of danger in reality (bird flu, anthrax) and the real deal (smoking).

Exercise. You may not be able to fight or flight, but you sure can exercise. Burn off that adrenaline you've built up from worrying. Ever heard the term "walks it off"?

Simplify. Everything. From material things that require maintenance and additional worries, to information overload and relationships.

Why the urgency? Every single day, things come up that seem to be emergencies. Are they? Pressing the "urgent" button in our brain releases the fight-or-flight physical response each time. Is it that important?

Gratitude. Being unselfish and appreciating others has been proven to make much happier people. Who is richer, the wealthy man who is selfish, or the poor man who is loved? Appreciate others. Selfishness will create constant worry about "what's mine is mine and no one else's". Is anxiety about not sharing what life is about?

Have faith. Faith in your religion, and if you have none, in humanity. Studies show those with faith worry less and are generally happier.

Accept aging gracefully. The one certainty in every life is that it will eventually end. It is not how we pass on, but how we lived, that will define our lives to those that we love and loved us. The final irony is that often, we're so worried about so many things, in this age of anxiety that we forget to actually live.

Make healthy food choices. Keep it simple with a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Don't overload on caffeine. Make meal times more relaxed and try not to skip meals.

So … (since we can't all be in Hawaii) maybe we should all remember to just … hang loose.