Anxiety is the sum total of our contained reaction to perceived guilt and shame. It is needless suffering and not part of our natural state. I believe we are naturally happy, content, joyful and at peace. Anything that happens to disturb that natural state runs counter to who you really are and if you buy into the thought system that created those thoughts, that system will unbalance you and send you reeling every time.
The next time you feel anxious about something ask yourself these questions:
• What am I telling myself about this situation that I start to feel nervous and uneasy? Some examples might be:“ I won’t remember my lines”,” I’m not prepared for this “,”They will think I’m stupid” ,“I have nothing to contribute here that hasn’t been said before.”
• Is what I am thinking about this really true, or not true ? If it’s not true, then come up with four recent examples of how you have proved it’s not true and keep reminding yourself of that as you walk through confronting your fear. Remember to breath deeply through your feelings as you do to help ground yourself.
If it is true, don’t pretend that it’s not, for example, the truth is you really aren’t prepared. Acknowledge that fact to yourself and move forward by planning the steps you’ll need to take in order to be better prepared. It means nothing about you as a person that you aren’t prepared. You just need to get there as quickly as possible.
Don’t hang out in guilt, shame, or blame, you are better than that. Your ideas are mighty forces and they need to be shared. Your ideas matter because YOU matter! If you don’t share them, then you are robbing the world of your insight and perspective. You are meant to be their voice.