Here’s a lesson on how fear and anxiety work. You read or hear or think up something you find alarming. Your mind begins to spin a story on all the horrible and awful things that might happen. As these thoughts occur, more anxiety grows, more thoughts occur, more fear, more…
Okay, whew! How to get off that horror-go-round is as follows –
- Breathe. Slow down. Remind yourself thoughts are not reality.
- Breathe again. Is what you are afraid of happening right now? Likely not. Good!
So now, you can consider, could this problem likely happen in the future? If so, what can I do today to help? - Take action. It could be creating a plan, getting some help, making a donation, talking to other interested people, praying, doing an act of kindness, participating in a group that helps. Be one of the helpers Fred Rogers spoke about.
- Remember balance. Fear works best when you are busy, distracted, overwhelmed. Fear flourishes when negativity becomes the lens through which you see life. Write 5 things for which you are grateful every morning and evening. Look for what is going right during the day.
- Do something kind for someone today. That is the best medicine.