Be Anxious For Nothing

Anxiety is prevalent in this world and also in our lives if we give it room to grow. I am not immune to this threat and have had many times when I have allowed it to roam free. It is not something that I want to be partnering with at all, and I do wish that I never had to contend with it.

However, as long as I am in this broken world, there is so much anxiety lurking around everywhere we turn—if and only if we allow it to navigate the path that our lives take.

I want to talk about anxiety because I have recently been realizing, even past COVID-19, that the rate at which this stressor has skyrocketed is major.

So I wanted to shine a light on this area, which I now see as something that we do need to address, especially when trying to navigate this one life that we get to live.

If I’m going to truly live out this experience and live it well, then I have to get a grip on this anxiety and make sure that it doesn’t get a grip on me.

I want to do so much more in this world, and in this life that I know I am destined for. So let’s look at this crippling emotional rollercoaster, and I will give you ways of managing this stressor without allowing it to control your life.

Have you been spending most of your waking life battling anxiety? I hope that this blog post will help you better navigate how to overcome it.

“Anxiety is only going to find you if you allow it room to grow and fester in your life. If you choose not to entertain it, then it will not entertain you.”

Spotlight The Stressor

Awareness of an anxious thought is the first step when trying to navigate an anxiety-free life. Anxiety likes to attach itself to what we feed it, so first identify what exactly is feeding the anxiety.

Give yourself some time to write down what comes to mind every time you feel something anxious coming up for you.

I so often tell others to practice the art of journaling. It is a great way to keep your thoughts in front of you so that you are more aware of them and can then make the necessary changes needed to remove the anxiety that you are having.

Once you are fully aware of what is causing the sudden rise in anxious thoughts, the next best thing to do is to look at ways to minimize or remove it completely.

That brings me to this next step.

Find A Solution To The Problem

After awareness comes the point where we have to face the anxiety that has been highlighted to us. How can we work toward being more willing to remove the problem or stressor that is causing the anxiety?

For instance, I recently had some anxious thoughts about arriving at places late. I am someone who hates going anywhere late; I want to be on time for anything I say I am going to do.

So, if you let me, I usually pre-plan everything down to the last minute. I want to make sure I am not rushing to get anywhere. I would hate to miss flights, events, pre-booked excursions, and the many things that require time and effort.

Whenever I fall behind at any point—sometimes for reasons outside of my control—I can start spiraling down. If you are next to me in that moment, you might get a good talking-to.

May that not be so, but I do hope you get my point!

The first step when it comes to time is, of course, to always plan your schedule wisely. That way, you make enough room for unexpected mishaps.

If things are outside of your control, the next best thing to do is see if there is an alternative solution. If there isn’t one and you miss an opportunity, do not be too hard on yourself for an error that was completely out of your hands.

If, however, it was in fact a time management error, then you can learn the lessons you need to in that moment and correct them for next time.

Making It A Habit

If you are constantly having to navigate stressful, anxiety-driven events in your life, this is a wake-up call that you may need to seriously remove a few things from your schedule and surroundings.

For some, that might mean leaving a toxic work environment, stepping back from an unhealthy relationship, avoiding a stressful place, or letting go of something that simply brings you down. Consider that job you wake up to every day—the one where your anxiety spikes the second you walk through the door.

I truly believe that anything that triggers such a high alert in your body is never worth your time or emotional investment. Your body knows when it feels threatened, and it will give you clear signals to caution you.

If you do not remove that stressor, you are allowing your body to remain in a constant state of fight-or-flight, which can take a heavy toll on your entire nervous system over time.

It makes you wonder how much chronic stress contributes to long-term health challenges down the road when the body stays on high alert for years without relief.

It is just not a healthy way to live, especially when we only get one life to live. Life is far too precious to spend it trapped in constant anxiety.

So, keep stepping away from the toxic stressors in your life as much as you possibly can. Your peace of mind is worth it.

Find Ways To Combat

If you ever find yourself fighting off anxious thoughts and can’t seem to get a hold of yourself, it is best to look for intentional ways to regulate your nervous system.

For me, my primary refuge is finding solitude in nature, music, or exercise. Spending time outdoors immediately calms my nervous system. Simply changing my environment and surrounding myself with trees, listening to birds, or watching local wildlife run around helps soothe my nerves. Because of this, I make it a habit to go for a daily walk in nature.

It is a reliable way to reset your baseline and return to center, especially after a high-stress event or an overwhelming day.

Find whatever activity restores your calm, and build it into your daily self-care routine.

Stay Consistent With Keeping Anxiety Down

Managing anxiety is not a one-time fix where it disappears forever. Life has a way of constantly demanding so much from us. Because of this, keeping effective tools in our coping toolbox is essential; we want to cultivate far more mastery and self-regulation than we might have had in the past.

This kind of peace requires daily practice and steady self-awareness. Each morning you wake up is another opportunity to either entertain anxious thoughts or move in the direction of calm.

Whenever possible, choose the path of least resistance when it comes to where you place your mental energy. If a situation or thought pattern begins to threaten your inner peace and trigger a spike in stress, remember that you get to choose whether to engage with it.

Once you begin mastering this practice, the world becomes a much more grounded, more manageable place to navigate.

I hope these five tips help you navigate anxiety with greater confidence and discover the coping strategies that serve you best. The more deeply you understand yourself, the better equipped you will be to protect your peace whenever stress arises.

I wrote a book called A Balanced Life: Moving From a Dysfunctional Life to a Purposeful One. I do believe that we can create the lives that we want to live for ourselves in peace and balance.

We need to make it a priority to shift our lives from what’s not working or helping us be our best selves to something more balanced and meaningful. Get a copy on Amazon.

Also, for more finding balance and self-care-related blog posts, visit:

• When You’re In Self Betrayal
• Fighting Back The Fears You Face
• Knowing When To Slow Down
• How To Create Healthy Boundaries
• Learning To Be At Rest
• When Life Challenges Your Faith
• Living Life In Freedom
• Being Intentional About Guarding Your Heart
• Learning To Let Go Of What Doesn’t Serve You
• Walking By Faith Each Day
• Finding Joy And Peace In Simplicity
• Finding Peace In Chaos
• Learning To Love Who You Are
• Living A Life Of Gratitude
• Balancing Motherhood and Purpose
• A Mom In Need Of A TIME-OUT
• Benefits Of Self-care As A Mom
• Overcoming The Hurdles And Struggles Of Motherhood
• Staying fit as a mom

In addition, for more information about my personal journey of re-discovery, get a copy of my book available on Amazon: I am Who God Says I Am: Always be inspired to live the life God has planned for you. It also highlights my personal journey of transition from a dysfunctional life to a purposeful one.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to see how life can be lived in balance.

Did you find the strategies listed in this article helpful? What were some of your favorite tips? How have they worked for you? Leave a comment below; I’d love to know what you think.

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