The Anxiety of Inaction
We all know the feeling. We think about stressful situations like taxes, lawsuits, dirty dishes, or any number of things and we feel our stomachs drop. Our hearts start racing and our breathing quickens. That is anxiety.
We all experience anxiety in one way or another. But, there are ways to combat it.
Now, this isn’t a cure-all, magic solution. This a powerful process that can be used to fight against feelings of anxiousness, and be a calmer, more effective person.
Are you hungry? Sometimes the simplest answer is the correct answer. A lot of times having a meal can solve feelings of anxiousness. In the words of Snickers, “You are not you when you are hungry.” Have an emergency snack always on hand in case of hunger.
Ask yourself “Why are you feeling anxious?” A lot of the time anxiety is irrational. We trick ourselves into feeling anxious. We take a small insignificant thing and blow it up into a significant catastrophe. By looking at the anxiety objectively, you can show yourself that the fear might not even be real.
Work out a plan. Let’s say that you are anxious because you need to work on an important task. At the moment of anxiousness work on creating a plan to address it. Set aside time when you are going to exclusively focus on that task. Mark it on your calendar. Tell a friend. Above all else, don’t approach your problems like a leaf caught in the wind. Be proactive about solving problems.
Act. In a lot of ways, anxiety can be the result of inaction. Commit to running towards the fire as Ben Horowitz calls it. This is a tough habit to build, but it is the most effective. If you get used to running towards the fire, you don’t get scared of the fire. Commit to acting.
Now, put these steps to use. They have been beneficial in reducing the unnecessary stress in my life.