On Anxiety

Anxiety feels heavy on chest and shoulders,

tightening around neck and throat...

breath shallow, heart pounding...

Anxiety needs reassurance, guidance, something to cling to, a hand to take, a buoy to hold in the tide.

Anxiety feeds on doubt – that’s why we can’t say goodbye to it for good. It’s more of a “see you later.” There’s hardly a 100% chance that what anxiety fears will NEVER happen – no matter how slight the odds.

So how to approach anxiety?

Well, usually, our first impulse is to run far, far away from it and change the lock of our door. But then anxiety is trying even harder to get our attention and might transform into fear or even panic...

So, as strange as it might sound, we approach it by acknowledging its presence, appreciating its existence and welcoming its appearance.

By “sitting with it” and “listening” to what it has to tell us.

I’m not going to lie – it’s a hell of a ride – but this way I meet with anxiety face to face, as equal partners on eye level.

And only by really and truly “facing it", it will feel seen and heard...

... and will slowly, but surely, dissipate…