Anxiety – Issue 2

(From Lenny: Thank you everyone for your love and support on this fun experiment 💖)

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Anxiety

My newsletter is going to be something simple...down-to-earth, like a conversation I am having with a dear friend.

After my first newsletter was posted I became quite anxious and nervous about what I just started. I asked myself: Am I overthinking it? and of course, the answer was yes...a  huge yes!

In my daughter's Michelle Rial book AM I OVERTHINKING THIS? there is a chart  I treasure because it makes me realize that my age is not an impediment to starting something new. The title of this chart: IS IT TOO LATE TO START? I had it framed and it is in my bedroom so I can see it when I wake up, inspiring me everyday.

I have to own the fact that I get anxious when doing something new, or something that challenges my "daily routine". I was feeling very uneasy for a while asking myself why I was getting into this thing to steal my peace. Then, applying to the situation all the reasoning and logic that I could find, I was able to take my racing thoughts to a place in my mind where I felt more confident, not letting my insecurities ruin what has many possibilities of being a good thing, and allowing me to start enjoying the process and regain my equilibrium moving forward.

By the way, very enjoyable in this process - and also very humbling - the encouraging comments the readers posted. Thanks a lot for that!

Anxiety can affect so much the way we act or conduct ourselves. It diminishes our good energy and our optimism, filling our brains with thoughts that slow us down, or pushing us to quit what we just started. Sadly, but we know that fear and anxiety are good friends!

Anxiety can make us become chronically vigilant, and even in some instances produce distressing physical situations.

We hear over and over that anxiety is not good for us, does not help with anything, does not solve anything, is just such a waste of time and energy...but still it comes to us and we have to search for ways that will assist us to manage it in an effective manner.

When we are uncomfortable in our mind the quality of our life is impoverished, our serenity is compromised, even our health could be compromised!

Our existential experience depends so much on what we pay attention to. Then, it is important that we can find a way to acquire better control over our thoughts, decreasing unnecessary stressors. Observing what energizes us and what drains us. What habits do we have that are helpful, which ones harm us or take us down. Do we pay more attention to obstacles than to opportunities? Do we pay more attention to the problem than to the solutions that may be available?

It is crucial that we become more selective to what we are attending to, looking as much as possible for what will improve our satisfaction, for what will make our spirit soar...freeing ourselves from the traps that hold us back.

Without beating ourselves up, we have to accept our weaknesses, our limitations...acknowledge them, learn from them, so we can become a better version of ourselves. It is one of the paths to grow, evolve, and progress. At the same time, we need to learn to trust our judgment, our intuition, knowing when to take chances, leading with curiosity, imagination, knowledge, consistency, perseverance, patience.

We have to seek out what magnifies our soul, focusing on truth, hope, faith, compassion, generosity, love, goodwill, freedom, peace, harmony, music, art, nature ...things that we value, appreciate or find memorable...moments of awe. What makes us feel like we are part of something greater than ourselves, and makes us more generous toward others.

I feel awe-struck when witnessing a beautiful sunset, when I look at the reflection of the moon in the ocean. I am often moved to tears when I listen to music that touches my heart. I get spine-chilling wow experiences with the vastness of a gorgeous mountain view.

Exploring and digging deep, every moment could be filled with potential for reclaiming our minds and take us to places of wonder.

The intention of our attention is so determining of where we stand and where we are going. With focus and conscious effort, we can modify what is not working for us and move to a place where we can create our own essence that will make us feel proud, grateful, fortunate...more fulfilled.

Nothing better than when we are at peace with our thoughts and surroundings. Whether it is the pandemic, elections, political turmoil,  inequalities, injustice...so much uncertainty, creating anxiety that is very difficult to deal with, triggering reactions in us that are challenging and damaging for our wellbeing.

More than ever we need to pay attention to our thoughts and seek what can make us better human beings, always believing that there is hope if we do the best we can and help each other as much as we are able to.

When things seem to be falling downward into chaos we need to push back with our goodness to match it.

Wonderful wisdom in these words by Albert Camus:

"In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.

In the midst of tears, I found there was , within me, an invincible smile.

In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.

I realized through it all, that in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

And that makes me happy.

For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger-something better pushing right back.”

Omaira