“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”
~ Charles Spurgeon
The mind is an incredible creative tool. However, how you use this tool can either make you or break you. When you consciously control it to serve your authentic nature and soul purpose, your mind is a glorious thing. For many people, the mind has become much more. It has taken over most, if not all, of their decision-making processes. In this case, their lives are more ego-driven than soul-driven.
Your natural soul-state is never anxious or depressed. You know this is true when you practice meditation long enough. In meditation, you are practicing tuning into this soul-state. The more you are able to tune in, the more relaxed and at peace you become physically and mentally. The way to calmness does not come from the external world (i.e. changing the people, things, or circumstances around you in some ideal way), it arises from within our being.
Anxiousness comes into your emotional state when you allow the mind to run wild. The mind is a marvelous and powerful tool which can be harnessed to create whatever you desire. Unfortunately, when it is mishandled, it can be equally destructive. At the onset of an idea, you can use your mind to see all the ways it will succeed and at the same time, all the ways it can fail. The mind can be like a cold, calculating lawyer trying to decipher what’s in your best interest. The problem is, it’s limited.
Without the proper guidance, the mind does not know what is best. What’s more, it has faulty programs running through it which commonly wreak havoc on your emotional well-being and your ambitions. When you become mindful or aware of your thoughts, you will begin to understand what I mean. You will hear inner-thought streams that berate and belittle yourself almost at every turn, especially when you challenge your comfort zone. Try doing something your afraid to do and see how loud this inner-dialogue gets.
You cannot control circumstances. Whether it’s tomorrow or 1 minute from now, anything can happen at any time. The only thing you can control is how you respond to it. There is no point in worrying about what may happen tomorrow because, when you learn how to regain your power and control your inner-state of being, you know you will be able to do whatever is necessary in a calm manner. This is the only real lasting solution to anxiety.
Stop worrying about what may happen and start enjoying this moment. This moment is the only thing that is real. This moment is where you can find your inner-strength to handle anything the future holds. Don’t make external factors such as other people, things, circumstances or hypothetical circumstances control your emotional state. If you do, you fall into the ‘Victim’s Mindset’ and life will be unenjoyable.
When things go your way, be happy. When things don’t go your way, be happy. Be happy in knowing that you control your disposition no matter what. In no way does this mean to avoid feeling your true emotions. If something sad happens and you are sad, cry. All emotions have their place in our lives. The important thing is that you are in control of them and not the other way around.
The next time you are feeling anxious, find a quiet place and meditate. Start focusing on your breath. Each breath slows the wild mind (which is envisioning all the possible terrible outcomes of the future) and brings you closure to your natural, peaceful state which is present within at all times. Each breath melts the tension away from your mind and body. Enjoy this new-found state and say goodbye to anxiety for good.
Your V10 Health Coach,
Sal Crispo
P.S. If you are interested, I also make a coaching video for each of these posts on YouTube. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel so you do not miss out on any of the valuable content I share. Here is the link for this post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql4GPHOhnUc