How to Transform Anxiety

Did you know the physiological experience of fear and anxiety is nearly identical to the physiological experience of excitement? Think about two people sitting next to each other on a rollercoaster. They're both gripping the rail. They're sweating. Their hearts are beating. One is terrified and one can't wait.

What's the difference? The meaning that we're placing on the experience. Are we telling ourselves that we're excited or we telling ourselves that we're terrified? A lot of people when they're feeling anxiety and fear, try to calm themselves through mindful breathing. That can work, but often a quicker way to alchemize that fearful energy into something useful is to visualize the experience going amazingly well. Chances are, your mind is thinking about everything that could go wrong or fail. Shift that imagery and shift those thoughts to something positive.

And what you'll most likely start to notice is that energy in your body starts to feel more like excitement rather than anxiety. Try this out next time you're looking to shift fear and anxiety. Thank you for your practice and take care.