Detecting anxiety is important for our well being. Recognizing anxiety’s presence and purpose lets us discern the appropriate course of action.
Irritation can be a sign of anxiety. Irritation projected onto others allows us to ignore our own anxiety. Feeling irritated can give us a sense of self righteousness. On the other hand, feeling our discomfort can make us feel vulnerable. We don’t like feeling vulnerable (soft) so we feel irritated (hard).
Anxiety hidden by irritation is one to work at removing lest we end up alienating the people close to us and hardening our own heart.
In other cases, it is wise to keep our eyes open and watch the anxiety develop – much like we would watch a small child – before we shove it out the door (the anxiety not the small child!).
When confronting new possibilities for our lives, no matter which stage of life we are leaving or entering, we are likely to feel some degree of anxiety. This is a healthy type of anxiety that begs to be observed for it contains information we will need in the new life.
When moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, whether you have chosen to move or you have no choice in the matter, you may experience excitement that you mistake for anxiety or vice versa.
When you begin exercising your creativity and feel either successful or thwarted in your endeavors, anxious feelings will crowd around urging you to give up. Don’t.
When basking in a hard-won sense of freedom gained by improved self awareness and hard personal work, remember Kierkegaard’s prediction that the possibility of freedom always engenders anxiety.
This week see how many times you can detect or recognize anxiety as it makes an appearance. Does anxiety usually help or hinder you? How?
Email me to let me know what you discover if it would be helpful to write it out. It would be helpful to me to read it.
Thanks for exploring the mystery– Nicky Mendenhall