The Question
What holds you back? Are you okay with that?
The Intention
Compassion
The Meditative Moment
Anxiety can be paralyzing. Because we want to stay safe, in control, in balance, we avoid the unknowns. We eat the same things, go to the same places, listen to the same things. Stepping out of our comfort zones could mean that the unexpected happens. In the midst of high anxiety, this is absolutely not okay. So we make our worlds very small. And for a time, that might be okay. We need to rebalance, come back to ourselves, relearn equilibrium. But there comes a time when we need to push the envelope just a smidge. If you find yourself struggling with anxiety these days, if you notice that your world is small, try broadening it just a little. Walk or drive down a street you never do. Try a different food or beverage. Sit in a different chair while watching television. Listen to an album by a new artist. Start small. If the world doesn’t crash down around you (and it most likely won’t), try something else the next day. Anxiety wants you to stay safe. That’s nice. But the way she goes about it is to sometimes hold you back. Let her know that you are capable of more than small.
Originally sent September 30, 2023, to paid Substack subscribers. If you want to receive current Thin Space reflections, you can start a paid subscription here: https://laurenlmurphy.substack.com. You can choose to pay $75/year or $8/month.