“Just focus on yourself”
“Go on a walk”
“Stop worrying”
When we feel our lowest and look for solace, we usually hear phrases like those mentioned above. We all come to realize that none of these self-help activities actually work. They only postpone the horrible experience we’re having at the moment.
Even after going on walks, traveling, going on long drives, and picking up new hobbies, lingering feelings of confusion, pain, or anxiety still creep back up. Then we turn to even more ways of feeling better: partying, drinking, retail therapy, or new mental hacks. Turns out, we end up more stuck, trapped, and feeling confused.
Been there, done that.
From experience, I’ve learned that the best way to move forward is to accept how things are. This means, not doing anything and letting the emotions, thoughts, and fears pass through us as and when they do. The more we stop trying to do something and go about our lives, the flow of thoughts, emotions, and anxiety just moves through us. Over time, the thoughts lessen and we’re less scared of ourselves. You develop confidence and security that no technique or achievement could give.
These life experiences show us that we have the strength to tolerate incredibly uncomfortable and frightening emotions. There is truly nothing to be afraid of.
Just like the gym, you build muscle as you expose yourself to heavier weights and more repetitions. Similarly, when you allow yourself to experience heavy emotions and scary fears, you develop the strength to let them just be. You find no need to meddle with them or even run away from the. Over time, the emotional intensity dissipates and they appear within you less often.
Give it a shot and let me know what you think about this simple, life-changing concept. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
J I V A W A Y S 