Yeap. Nope. F* Yourself
Yeap. Nope. F* Yourself.
Is what I say on those days I'm done being human.
Like nothing else matters.
Happening to me quite a bit these days.
Bear market.
Onslaught of rejection.
Toxic positivity.
Anxiety is real. For years, I've been battling it.
These days, I know better.
I just live with it. It's a part of me.
It started making me better on the days I can channel it right. I like to see myself as a 'practicing agent of anxiety'.
So, if you're like me, this 'FIVE STEP PROCESS TO UN-NUMB YOUR NUMB' by Steven Kotler (with my personal notes) could be that one thing you need to read today to get you out of the rut.
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1. Make Your Happy Place Your First Priority
The only way out is through. So, do anything that makes you happy, as long as it doesn't harm someone (or something) else. Always remember, the Airplane Oxygen Mask. Take care of yourself first.
2. Counteract Stress at all Costs
Sleep. Regular Exercise. Nourishing food. Loads of hydration. Get some sunlight with SPF on. Easier said that done. I know.
But, in days like these, I remember that my body is a machine, and it needs to be taken care of. Stuff that I'm listing here boosts your happy hormones.
3. Get Curious about Your Anxiety
This is a winner. I've started doing this for about 2 years now. Extremely effective. I just start asking questions about my Anxiety - "Why is it here? Where am I feeling it? etc."
And, then I spend about 10-20 minutes researching about it. That gets me really excited, because I love research, and then *Boom!* - Anxiety gone!
The science behind it, as Kotler puts it, Curiosity and Anxiety are two sides of the same coin, because both are a response to uncertainty, and they’re both built of norepinephrine (the neurotransmitter hugely responsible for attention, stress response, arousal). Cool eh?
4. Find Hope
Because, for me, Anxiety is almost always followed by Despair. This is why you need a goal.
I like meditating. Or, looking at my personal moodboard. Or, getting in touch with friends I know will respond to my messages.
"Hope is nothing more than the ability to connect current activities with future possibilities."
5. Get into Flow
Or, the 'Zone'. Or 'In the Now'. Mostly this happens when you're engaged in your most favourite activities - when time seems to fly, and you're completely immersed.
Of course, this isn't possible when you are low batt, so make sure you do Steps 1-4 first to re-energise yourself. Kotler says it is best we get into Flow at least for a couple of hours each week. I'm getting better at this.
Also, apparently, "The real goal isn’t a single flow state. It’s a couple in a row. It’s letting your brain know that the best feeling on earth is still a feeling you get to have."
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As I'm writing this, I am un-numbing myself. On to rehydrate and get some sunshine now. Nothing is permanent, even the bad days. Let me know if this has been helpful.
