How Anxiety Can Be So Disempowering, When It Doesn't Have To Be

‘Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.’ (Corrie ten Boom, Dutch watchmaker).

Someone close to me has recently started suffering from anxiety. I confess I’m not an expert on the subject (and I’m not claiming there is a miracle cure), but rather sharing one experience and approach.

As they talk to me about their experience, they are realizing that this is something they can do something about. While the first step is medication, to manage the immediate day-to-day, they are working on a way to have that not be a long-term solution.

Firstly, they recognize that this does not need to define them. It’s reframing from ‘I am an anxious person’ to ‘I sometimes experience anxiety’.

Secondly, it’s about exploring what is happening when they experience anxiety and trying to isolate the triggers.

Thirdly, it’s about exploring little things they can do in those moments. There’s a lot of journalling, deep breathing and reciting of mantras they are trying out…no simple fixes, but they’re confident they can find something that will work for them and hopefully allow them to eliminate the medication and the anxiety.

Try this ONE thing

I like this idea of reframing anxiety from something disempowering by exploring what can be done to give back some power. I’m taking a look at where I might be disempowering myself.

Want to experience coaching? I like to start with a deep, get-to-know-you conversation to see if we are right for each other. Sometimes we talk for one or two hours at no charge. I have no goal except to bring about transformation. Together we work on the lies, the self-deception, and the fears of the power you perceive to be outside yourself. We work on your difficulties in making decisions and your inability thus far to make bold choices in life and to follow through and trust yourself completely to do so.

The irony for some people is that the very thing that they want the coaching for (an indecisive, half-hearted life) is what’s keeping them from deciding whether to get coaching.

When you’re ready, reach out @ karen.laidlaw.theONEthing@outlook.com. Meanwhile, enjoy the blog!