It is interesting that for so long, I would be filled with anxiety and not know it. The things that could go wrong would fill my mind. Instead of looking to apply myself and make good out of a difficult situation, I see all of the unappealing tendrils stretching out.
My anxiety comes from automatic thoughts. I have grooves etched in my mind. If this happens, I will have something I don’t like become magnified. With anxiety, I confuse similar situations and let the emotional water go into a gully rather than let it water the plants that will nourish me.
Fear and worry come along at times. I don’t give them much credence. As I notice something fearful, I react to it in a positive way. I’ll be able to get beyond it. It’s when I let the fear or worry reinforce each other that they distract me from the next positive thing to do.
One of the biggest skills I can develop is to recognize anxiety early and then combat the anxiety. The emotional consequences of anxiety can be defeated with the understanding that it is a feeling and not a fact.
© 2012 W. Wayne B.
Photo credit: Christian V.
Follow me on Twitter: @williamwayneb
