Dealing With Anxiety

"Anxiety's like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you very far." -  Jodi Picoult

These are anxious times. We all deal with anxiety at one time or another, because it’s part of our brain’s response to a perceived danger, even if that danger isn’t real. It’s our body’s natural response to stress. The problem is not that it is there, it’s what it can become if we let it. Anxiety is that thin stream of fear trickling through our mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. Anxiety is not dangerous, it's just uncomfortable.

When you are feeling anxious, remember that you are still you, and you are not your anxiety. Take a step back and inhale. You're never given anything in this world that you can't handle. Be strong, be flexible and remember who you are and who loves you. Take a moment now to stop and thank yourself for how far you've come. You've been trying to make changes in your life and all your efforts count. Go easy on yourself. Whatever you do today, let it be enough. Remind yourself you are going to be all right. You’ve stopped your negative thoughts before, and you can do it again now. The greatest weapon against stress and anxiety is your ability to choose one thought over another. We must learn to identify our anxiety stressors and how to combat them. We must learn to make small adjustments on what we focus on.

Here are some things to shift your focus to:

• Focus on developing and strengthening your mindset: If we build a strong mindset, the body will follow. The mind is a muscle, you must work on it every day.
• Focus on attitude and thankfulness: Carry an attitude of gratitude in all you think and do. Learn to count your blessings. If you take the time to think about it, there are always more blessings than problems. You must spend more time counting your blessings and less time analyzing your problems. We all have things to be thankful for, it’s important to not take them for granted. When you recognize all that is right instead of focusing on all that is wrong you will realize how blessed you truly are. 
• Focus on finding the good in everything: Seek it out. Look for the positive. Life happens for you, not to you. 
• Focus on your health and wellness: Exercise regularly & stay active. Eat balanced meals. Get enough sleep. Find time to relax and give yourself a break. Practice meditation or yoga. 
• Focus on strengthening your relationships: Stay connected to people who care about you. Reach out and give to others; your time, a helping hand. Practice intentional acts of kindness. Seek out opportunities to add value to someone else's life, daily.
• Focus on what you can control: You. Your thoughts, your beliefs, you emotions, your actions.

Write down your thoughts about what is giving you anxiety, sometimes just getting it out of your head can make it less daunting. 

Make today the day. Today I will escape anxiety. I will choose to discard it. Because it is within me in my own perceptions, not outside. Today I refuse to stress myself out about things I cannot control or change. Today I will use my greatest weapon, my ability to choose my thoughts, and controlling what I can control. 

Remember, courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." 

Make today great!

Curtis

"Anxiety was born in the very same moment as mankind. And since we will never be able to master it, we will have to learn to live with it—just as we have learned to live with storms." -  Paulo Coelho