A Guide to Using Mindfulness to Manage Your Anxiety

If anxiety is a part of your life, then you’ve definitely heard of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of yourself, your feelings, and experiences. In other words, mindfulness is all about living in the moment and accepting things for what they are, free of judgment.

Becoming aware of what you’re experiencing is only possible through your senses and, of course, your state of mind. Why is mindfulness useful when it comes to dealing with anxiety, you may ask.

The answer is that mindfulness allows you to interrupt automatic responses, such as fight, flight or freeze actions that come automatically when you react to the things that cause fear, worry, and anxiety in general.

That’s why today I want to discuss a few mindfulness practices that can help you manage anxiety more successfully on a daily basis.

Volition

Volition and intention are at the very base of all of our reactions and attitudes. This means that our intention and will is what allows us to get a hold of our anxiety and transform it to find peace and ease in everyday situations. When you start working on your anxiety with intention, you will be reinforcing the fact that you’re capable, whole, and resourceful on your own.

Perspective

Learning how to look at things from a fresh perspective is one of the mindfulness practices that will truly help you get a hold of your anxiety. By looking at it with curiosity, you will be transforming the way you experience your anxiety. And by adopting a fresh perspective, you’ll open yourself up to possibilities that will help you challenge your usual line of thought and feeling.

Acknowledgment

Acknowledging your experiences for what they are is another mindfulness practice that will help you with your anxiety issues tremendously. If you work on accepting your anxiety and you accept the experience for what it is, you will be able to control it and it will pass a lot quicker than it ever has in the past. It’s also important to be patient with yourself and know that it requires conscious work to get to the point where it won’t affect you as strongly as it may do today.

No More Judgment

One of the main aspects of mindfulness is learning how to stop judging your experiences. If you live in the present, without having to constantly evaluate everything, you will learn how to see clearly. Letting go of judgment means you’re letting go of the uncomfortable feelings that come with it. So, if you’re feeling anxious, adopt this stance and you’ll find that it does make a difference in the moment. If you practice this consciously, it will make a difference in your life for the better.

Self-Reliance

Practicing self-reliance is yet another way to handle your anxiety. It’s important that you learn how to trust yourself and your ability in spite of any negative or uncomfortable feeling. Teach yourself to run towards these feelings instead of allowing them to take over and trust that you’re strong enough to come out unscathed.