Are Anxious Thoughts Controlling You?

Anxiety is not an uncommon occurrence. However, it becomes a problem, when our anxious thoughts prevent us from performing routine tasks or keep us from pursuing our dreams and goals.

Feeling anxious, starts as a thought. The anxiety that a thought generates, can come on so quickly, that sometimes, we cannot discern which came first. Feelings are like a built-in GPS. They let us know when our thinking is on-track or off-track. Off-track feelings keep us revved up, angry, fearful and tense. We cannot think clearly and we shut-down. On-track thoughts energize us in a way that is focused, but not frenetic. When our thoughts are on-track, we feel peaceful, content, grateful, we have compassion for those around us, and we are more creative.

If something that happened in the past, is tormenting you or holding you hostage, I can imagine the stress you are feeling. I have experienced it myself. If you are tired of the limiting hold that a past experience has on your life, I hope you will open your mind to the possibility that the path to freedom lies within you.

The past is nothing more than shadows on a wall. It exists only in our thoughts. We get ourselves in trouble, when we drag a past event in to the present and treat it as if it were happening today. A painful memory that controls us to the point that we cannot leave our home, or do the things we want to do, indicates that we are focusing too much energy on something that is nothing more than a thought.

We misuse the wonderful gift of thought, when we use it to torture, scare and paralyze ourselves. We put ourselves into a state of distress, when we give too much attention to our thoughts, or take our thoughts too seriously. We berate ourselves for past mistakes and then wonder why we feel bad.

So, what can we do about thoughts that cause us distress? Should we replace them with positive thoughts? You try to do that, but I believe that is way too much work. Actually, troublesome thoughts will evaporate on their own, when we do not put our attention on them. When we stop giving so much attention to thoughts that scare us, our anxiety will subside, maybe even vanish. It's that easy.

You know as well as I do, that giving attention to anxiety producing thoughts, does not benefit you in any way. More than likely, focusing on those thoughts, has the opposite impact on your well-being. It is not a matter of letting go of unpleasant thoughts, as much as it is a matter of not grabbing on to them in the first place. I know it sounds too simple, but give it a try. You have nothing to lose, but your anxiety.

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