YOU DON’T NEED TO GET RID OF ANXIETY BEFORE YOU DO THE THING

Let’s take sitting exams at school as an example (it’s topical in our house right now and a great example).

“Anxiety” is a label your brain has learned to put on sensations that arise within the body.

These sensations are completely normal and it’s not surprising for them to come up when thinking about sitting an exam.

The intensity of the sensations that your brain labels as “anxiety” is not an indication of how you will perform in the exam, nor of how you will feel in the exam.

Anxiety, as your brain likes to call it, is just what’s arising right now.

There’s not a thing wrong with you for feeling it.

Also, how well you perform in the exam is not an indication of your worth or intelligence.

If you don’t get the result you want, that could be disappointing, and you can totally handle feeling disappointed.

Feelings (anxiety, disappointment, etc.) are safe, contrary to popular belief, and when we fully feel them, it’s amazing what wisdom shows up on the other side.

Getting real about this sort of stuff up frees up a lot of energy and mental space to get on with studying as best you can, taking breaks to move your body and get fresh air, and all that sort of practical stuff that helps people prepare for exams.

All of the same is true for anyone preparing for a job interview, an athletics competition, leaving the house or whatever it is you’re feeling anxious about.

#anxiety #wellbeing #resilience #parenting #schools