OK, if you're feeling anxious right now, let's unravel it: Is today's anxiety the same as yesterdays or is it different? And, if you're being anxious about the same thing as yesterday, did it happen - whatever you were anxious about - or are you being anxious about something else completely in which case, what's the likelihood of it happening? For both situations, did being anxious help?
I ask because many a day is wasted on being anxious about something that was only ever a possibility and in fact didn't happen, but people will readily answer that second question, about whether it helped. Yes, they will say, it meant I was ready [for it to happen] or I won't be caught napping [if it does happen] etc. But it didn't happen, did it!
My motto is
'Life's too Short' to waste on anxiety [being anxious, anxiousness etc.]. Even if you're being threatened by a Bear or there are Barbarians in the back garden, you can have a quick scan for a solution before eating breakfast as usual. And if there isn't an obvious fix, still eat breakfast as usual, because you'll probably find the Bear wants a better meal and the Barbarians are looking for a more promising pitch to raid.
The point is that being anxious doesn't help, it's not what it's designed to do.
Anxiety doesn't propel you towards taking action. It anything, it leads towards inaction and that's because anxiety is connected to the freeze response. The freeze response is one of the body's natural reactions to stress or danger, along with the fight-or-flight response. When faced with a threat, your body may instinctively choose to freeze, essentially becoming immobile, as a way to protect yourself. In the face of intense anxiety, you may feel paralyzed, unable to move or take action, similar to the freeze response. In business, this shows up as feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to make decisions.
Understanding the connection between anxiety and the freeze response can be helpful in developing coping strategies to avoid being anxious altogether. Techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing and grounding exercises can help you regain a sense of control and calmness and seeking support from mental health professionals can provide valuable guidance too. At the very least, you'll find yourself more able to get things done.
Which is curious really, because the only action manifested by anxiety is the decision not to be anxious anymore. Implementing that decision - along with the accompanying steps to avoid it - really works.
To your health and wellbeing
Caroline D'ay
07836 386735
Wellbeing Dynamics
www.wellbeingdynamics.com
