There
are so many ways that anxiety seems to rear its ugly head in a society
that treasures achievement, sometimes to the detriment of living itself.Strong words, maybe, but i am not here to tread lightly as i have no desire to coddle anyone when it comes to living victoriously in the love of life.
It seems as if we are expected to “be” so much, are we not?
But sometimes in the very act of becoming, we simply forget to just “Be.” We allow so many influences, from family and friends, to society-at-large, to set the tone for our living. We become, then, filled with an angst that stems from so many voices crying out to us, seeming in our own heads. It is the call of expectations of all in our lives who demand that we are “more”, whatever that is.
More than what? More than who? And more importantly, WHY?
The past beacons us, our “so-called” failures beseech us, our ego compares us and we sink deeper into the abyss, often falling on the weight of fears of a future that we can not support or even imagine.
Why are you anxious? What are the signs and symptoms we should be dealing with here? And, the real question; Who are you in the process?
As a Life Coach, this is the area that seems to be the most pressing for most i encounter. Anxiety, worry, angst, depression...they are all tied into a precarious knot that can doom many and even lead few to consider even taking their own lives.
But there is always a core that the anxiety covers and that is the journey we take to discover the beauty of living in the Present Moment, for here is where all truth lives. This is the Now Moment that we find a way up and out and into a new way of living.
But the ultimate truth is always our own journey that must be discovered. To truly rid yourself of the anxiety in any situation, or just in your daily living, you must do some basic self-reflection steps to have the insight to move forward. Be it with a Life Coach, or through meditation, or just taking yourself fishing...whatever it takes to gain some clarity, it needs to be done.
My
father had a peculiar saying that he would spout when Alzheimer's had
taken its grip on him and that was, “Hey, did you stop and smell the
roses?”Seemingly out of nowhere, he would interject the saying into conversations. Now my father would occasionally say that growing up, usually as a glib saying, but the simple fact is that there is an ultimate truth here for life. It is a quote that is thrown about so much that we do sometimes forget its significance.
A famous golfer, Ben Hogan, said it beautifully when he said, “As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.”
3 Ways to Begin the Transition Away from Anxiety
Anxiety is a far reaching subject, to be sure, but as it was in the theatre, to get ready for the production of any theatrical production, there are things that have to happen before we even get to rehearsals. We have to consider a lot of factors before even choosing the show and consider all of the elements that go into the production.
The three ways we begin the process is similar then to getting ready for a show; separation, reflection and connection.
When preparing for a show, the separation usually comes from a director getting with the board of directors to choose a vision for a production asking such questions such as, do we do a comedy or is a musical good now?
So when it comes to setting the stage for getting to the heart of your anxiety, you must be willing to prepare.Step 1: Separation
The goal is to separate ourselves in an atmosphere free from distractions; yes that means your precious smart phone, tablet or laptop.
Silence is golden here.
Take time for yourself to free yourself from the rush and crush of life for a bit.
The Second Step: Self Reflection
This is the step that may be the most heartfelt, or should be. This is you identifying the root core and being completely honest with who and where you are in this current moment. Putting all angst aside, you are indeed present in this moment.
So in this Now Moment, the worry that brought you to this point has nothing to do with this moment, so drop it. You are here, be here completely Now. Do not allow the future that your ego is painting for you to exist. Make your own rules, which leads us to the third step.
Step 3: Connection or Connectivity
Such as is preparation to start the theatrical production, these are the components that you have identified in your reflection stage that will move you away from angst; the concepts, people, places and things that you need to begin the process of looking towards the light that is your life. This is the process of the understanding that there is always a way forward.
In the end, it is a solitary journey that opens itself up to the resources the Universe provides for those who are willing to allow for a brighter future. Anxiety is not a way to live in this Present Moment and has no place here. Let’s begin the process together for while it is indeed a solitary journey, you are never alone.
Let me know your thoughts below, get on the newsletter list HERE, and be Social with this Post, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.
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DA
Southern is a Strategic Life Coach, teaching the spirit of living in
Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as
an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid
life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in
all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness of the Present Moment
with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA Southern for coaching @ directyourownlife@gmail.com
