Each one of us has dealt with anxiety at some point in our lives. As humans, imperfection is part of our existence.
Anxiety seems like a haunting emotion, often tied to many other feelings we face on a daily basis. It’s connected to the fear of loss, the frustration of wanting something hard to achieve, the loneliness of isolation, and countless other emotions we’ve all experienced, especially in recent months.
The challenges brought by lockdowns have been difficult for many, and coping with mental health struggles and mixed emotions has tested us all. Anxiety can arise at any time, in any person. It does not discriminate.
When patients come to my consultation asking me to help them eliminate their unwanted negative emotions, I often say: “There’s no point in trying to get rid of something that has been with you since the moment you were conceived. The key is to make peace with it.”
I’ve seen people fighting their inner demons their whole lives. They spend time and money trying to escape a situation that is, in fact, a part of being human. No one can live without facing the triggers of negative emotions, especially the anxiety that comes from those triggers.
The healthiest approach is to make peace with it—to understand that these emotions are part of who we are and to develop a strategy for managing the triggers and the emotions that follow.
We can’t live believing we are free from negative emotions. I wish that were the case, but it’s not. Instead, we can learn to live with an emotional regulator in place once the triggers are activated and negative emotions emerge. But how? I can tell you it’s simple—but it took me years of learning. If you’re reading this, it’s because you’re seeking how to do it. I can assure you that the techniques are straightforward, but they require practice and courage.
The first step is connecting with yourself—understanding who you truly are and managing your real expectations. Connection with your breath is also crucial; focus on your breathing rhythm when you start to feel out of control. Connect with your body to manage the physical response that follows an unwanted negative emotion. And most importantly, practice forgiveness for your humanity, accepting that you are an imperfect human and will express that imperfection in a perfect way: by loving yourself and understanding life.
Real Lifebosses master these techniques and their responses because they know what is required to live a fulfilling life.