When you think about anxiety, what comes to mind?
Really. What’s the first thought that pops into your head?
If you’re like most people, it’s probably along the lines of ugh, I hate feeling anxious. I have yet to meet a single person who enjoys feeling anxious. But I also have yet to meet anyone who is stretching outside of their comfort zone and is completely free of any and all anxious feelings.
Nerves and discomfort go hand in hand with playing big. We’re bound to feel these things, but how we approach and work with our anxiety is up to us.
Here’s a crazy thought: what if anxiety isn't the bad guy we make it out to be?
What if feeling anxious means nothing about your character?
What if it’s just an indicator that you’re playing big?
A sign that you really care about whatever you're anxious about?
Or simply a part of being alive?
This is how I choose to view anxiety — and guess what? It makes me way less anxious!
What if the goal isn’t getting rid of anxiety, but learning how to move through it so you can keep building the life you want?
How might your life change if you moved into radical acceptance of anxiety — and all “negative” feelings for that matter?
What might shift if you removed any layers of judgment, and stopped being so hard on yourself for not feeling happy 100% of the time?
I know this feels counterintuitive — like leaning into your anxiety will allow it take over. But the opposite is often true. Getting anxious about having anxiety (and trying to avoid or suppress it) only makes things worse. On the other hand, letting any unpleasant feelings be present without judgment creates space to process them and move beyond them.
I’m not suggesting you let anxiety take the steering wheel. Instead, I suggest you acknowledge it…and move it on over to the passenger's seat. In the past, you might’ve tried to kick it out of the car completely…but how well did that work out?
You can even greet your anxiety, like "oh hey, you're right on time,” and then get curious about it. Put it under a microscope and look at it from all angles. What’s it trying to stop you from doing? And why? Let’s assume it has your back in its own, twisted way. How might your anxiety actually be trying to help, save, or protect you?
You can spend your entire life trying to eliminate every ounce of anxiety. Or you can start accepting it and learn how to manage and process your feelings (especially the “negative” ones) in a healthy way!
The more you practice this, the more you’ll realize that you can truly handle any emotion. Once you see that and realize how powerful you are, there is truly no stopping you!
To feeling all the feels,
P.S. Learning how to manage the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship is one of the most freeing and empowering things you can do for yourself — and your business!
If you’re tired of letting your anxiety stop you from building the abundant life and business you dream about, I got you. Send me a message here and we'll set up a time to connect!
