Anxiety, the sneaky dis-ease that pollutes our being…
Did you know that anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States and that women are more than twice as likely as men to get an anxiety disorder in their lifetime?
Another interesting fact is that despite a growing economy, adults in the U.S. are more worried, stressed, and angry. Stress and worry are affecting more people when compared to polls over the last 12 years.
I used to be attached to my anxiety like it was my badge of honor. I had this preconceived idea that being stressed and overwhelmed was just a normal part of becoming “successful”. As ashamed as I was of the label at the time, in retrospect I see how it validated me in some twisted way.
Growing up, like many, I believed that I had to do it all and I prided myself in how much I could juggle at once; I’d pride myself on getting work done, breastfeeding exclusively while cooking 3 healthy meals a day and going on as little sleep as humanely possible because that meant I could also do that DIY project I had found on Pinterest! I gauged my success in the things I could own and the status I could gain.
As a society we tend to accept the definition of success as MORE…more power, more money, more things, more status…just MORE! So much so, we are willing to sacrifice our health & our happiness to attain this level of accomplishment, because we think we’ll be happier when we get “there”!
In recent studies, our country has been said to be the leaders in a worldwide anxiety epidemic…. How can we, as a collective be ok with that? Medications are being dispensed at the speed of light and although they can be necessary, I have to ask the question; why are we treating only the symptoms when we obviously need to be treating the causes?!?! {I have my ideas on that..}
Stress and anxiety have multiple sources…but isn’t the root cause really fear and limiting beliefs?
What if we’ve had it all wrong all along? What if we could eradicate most of the stress and anxiety we experience by redefining OUR success, one where wellness becomes what we strive for?
Countries that have far less than us are leading happier & healthier lives…how is that?
Perhaps they spend more time doing things that light them up. Perhaps they spend more time enjoying what they have rather than always striving for more. Perhaps they’ve learned to enjoy and appreciate the now. Perhaps they see the value in all the little things we take for granted. Perhaps…perhaps THEY HAVE defined their own success.
When we choose to release the fears, the limiting beliefs, the stress fades away bit by bit and with it, our anxiety.
When we can experience contentment with what we have, we always have more than enough.
I for one am not ok with these statistics and am doing all I can to help change them, and it all started with me and my family! We can control & reduce anxiety and stress in our lives with a few simple steps;
#1: Shift your nutrition. When we load our bodies with chemically ridden foods, we put stress on our internal organs. This stress creates havoc in our minds as well.
#2: Learn to live in the NOW and make the most of it. Let’s stop focusing and stressing about the past because it’s gone and regardless of the amount of energy we focus on it, it will not change. Let’s stop worrying about a future that has not arrived and that cannot be predicted nor controlled.
#3: Find stillness! Sit quietly and meditate even if it’s only for 5 minutes a day. It is in silence that we find our answers. By quieting our minds for even a split second we allow healing and growth to take place.
#4: Breathe. All too often we forget to breathe because we’re in this vicious cycle, one where there’s never enough time and too much to do. Learn to slow down.
#5: Feel gratitude. Gratitude for all that you have and all that you are, because someone, somewhere is dreaming of the life you’re leading! Find gratitude for the little things because as they say, they are always the big ones in the end!
When we begin treating our bodies, minds and souls like the temple that they are, we can begin to thrive.
Join me in creating the change that will revolutionize our world!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Feel free to let me know in the comments or via email at [email protected]