Moving through Anxiety

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”  – Corrie ten Boom

When we suffer from anxiety about any issue, know that there is a reason your body, mind and spirit are responding this way, so rather than feel embarrassed or silent about your anxiousness, try to understand it instead.

Anxiety is a feeling and an emotional state, so there are no blood tests to diagnose it.  Each person has their own concerns and fears and although you may not understand why someone could be scared or anxious in certain circumstances, you may find yourself in a situation one day where you too are anxious, without warning.

“Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it.” ― Dorothy M Neddermeyer

I used to get anxious about driving to areas I was unfamiliar with, after taking a wrong turn years ago.  I would google a map of the area and set out following each direction with great anxiety!  I always felt that travelling there was out of my control and held a fear that I might get lost.  What I thought would happen was only an illusion, as I never got lost and if I did, I somehow made my way back.

Energetically, anxiety makes us feel uncomfortable and unsafe and although these fears are usually illusions, they are still very real when you experience them.

At the time of our anxiety our energy is scattered and we do not feel safe in the environment we are in.  When you are anxious, the last thing you feel like doing is breathing and sitting in stillness because when anxiety sets in, we naturally want to resist it and so we fight the fear instead of allowing it in and then releasing it.

Anxiety is usually a problem with the base (root) chakra which represents our survival consciousness, when the first chakra is clear, we feel secure grounded and stable.  When we commit to a practice of stillness, meditation and breath, we learn to connect to Mother Earth and that allows us to ground our energy and feel safe.

“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.” – Steve Maraboli

For some people, anxiety becomes so overwhelming that it takes over their lives. If you do not address anxiety, it will grow and to avoid medication, you need to work with your body rather than suppressing your body’s way of communicating with you that something is not balanced.

“You need to feel to heal.”

Yoga is also a great way to learn how to connect and control our breath.  In yoga, breath signifies your vital energy. Yoga teaches that controlling your breathing can help you control your body and quiet your mind.

Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peacefulness of body and mind, helping you relax and manage stress and anxiety.

Respect your body and know that there are many practices to understand it and when you are in tune with your body, you will know how to balance your mind, body and spirit.