Last time, we discussed three ways to break through anxiety. To summarize briefly, these are:
1) Ask yourself, “So what?” Realize that whatever the area of the root fear or anxiety is, you can handle it.
2) Read books and listen to talks by inspirational people.
3) View decisions as an opportunity to choose between Option A and Option B, not one option that is right and one that is wrong.
In addition, here are some additional tips you can use:
1) One of the key premises of the book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway and much of the fear literature is that people can’t conquer fear and anxiety by waiting until the fear is gone to act. It is actually by doing what scares you that you can become more comfortable, even if you start by taking a single step.
A short side note: We’re not talking reckless and dangerous here or activities that can hurt others. We’re referring to those day-to-day activities that can make our hearts race or our muscles clench but that deep down, we really want to do.
For example, if you are scared of public speaking, you can start by standing up in front of a small group of people and introducing yourself. If driving causes anxiety for you, start by driving in a quiet area or with someone else in the car – or both! Then keep practicing, even when you may not feel like it, even if you have to keep telling yourself “I’m feeling the fear and doing it anyway” to build your skill and comfort level.
The key is to take action.
Remember that almost everyone feels scared or anxious at some point. Don’t give your anxiety more power by feeling guilty or less worthy because of it. Use your experiences to help others by being more understanding and compassionate about them and their challenges.
2) When you are feeling anxious–or any other strong emotion–take some time to sit down and journal your thoughts. In order to get the most out of this exercise, write for at least 20 minutes uninterrupted–without stopping or crossing anything out. Just let the words flow from your mind and your heart onto the paper. No judging. Just writing. And if you feel as though you have run out of things to say, write about the weather, the area where you are sitting or anything else. Through writing, you will connect to the deepest part of you.
Looking for more information about breaking through your anxiety? Contact me through my blog, my Web site, Facebook or Twitter by using the links provided below.
References: Some material drawn from work done by Susan Jeffers and Lucinda Bassett.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
