Anxiety is not the enemy but a tool for success

I am writing to you about Anxiety. And the reason I do is to try and build a better understanding of what it is and how we can use it to benefit us. Currently, anxiety-induced stress is the most common healings that have been offered for the last few months. This is true even when people come for healings to address physical ailments. When we deep dive and work over sessions, it always brings us to the element of anxiety that's out of control. 

* I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. The article and the tips are based on my own experiences and learnings from various coaching and healing certifications. Diagnosed Mental health issues should be dealt with under the care of a licensed professional. 

Anxiety in and of itself isn't abnormal. Anxiety is part of our normal existence and it is what motivates us to look for solutions and get into action to solve them. It is what helps us do better, to do our best. 

Every person has some anxiety on a daily basis and we all have anxious thoughts especially around important deadlines or decision points.

It is only when we aren't able to transform these anxious thoughts into constructive action or when these cripple us by becoming irrational fears, is when something that is normal becomes a problem. 

So where should we begin? What can we do to transform anxious thoughts into a tool that helps us perform better? 

Here are a few from my list. I'd love to hear if you have a special practice that works (leave a comment on FB or in the comments, it might help someone tremendously)

1. Timeout for deep breathes: When anxiety hits, take a few moments and take long, deep breaths. I use the 6-3-6-3 count. 6 counts inhale, hold 3 counts, exhale 6, hold 3. repeat. Mindful breathing is proven to lower blood pressure, reduce rampant thoughts and calm the mind. 
2. Physical grounding: Turn your focus on physical reality. Use a squeeze ball, touch a wall and move back and forth shifting your weight, list the colours you see around you. What this does is it takes you out of the headspace into your physical reality. This instructs the nervous system to redirect from any irrational fight or flight scenario to rational thought. 
3. Journal and Log thoughts: This is by far the best thing to help cope with anxiety. Start to write down the thoughts that are running through your head. Log the emotions and feelings. The act of 'removing the thoughts' on paper is the first line of relief. Next, check everything that is written and ask yourself how much of it is true and how much is based on 'what-if' scenarios. The more you apply logic to anxious thoughts, the more the brain will discard unnecessary information.
4. Create alternatives to worrying: Instead of letting your mind run away with anxious thoughts, curate activities and exercises that help. From painting to creating a mantra, to going on walks, whatever helps reduce the power of the anxious thoughts and create thoughts that are productive.
5. Speak to someone: Find a person who will offer their time and just listen to what you are thinking without offering advice, judgement and opinions unless you ask for them. It could be a friend, a coach, a therapist, a counsellor. Have a go-to person for when anxiety is overwhelming you, it will drastically reduce the time you spend suspended in fear. 

We all have anxiety but the key is to learn how to process and manage it so that it is not a deterrent but a fuel to be our best. 

Written with Love