Anxiety Isn’t Just Here to Mess with You—It’s Trying to Tell You Something
Most of us treat anxiety like it’s some sort of pest we just can’t shake—a painful, annoying part of life we’d do anything to avoid. And I get it: anxiety feels like crap. But what if instead of treating it like a symptom to eliminate, we thought of it as a message we haven’t fully heard? What if anxiety, as uncomfortable as it is, actually has something we need to listen to?
Here’s the deal: Anxiety doesn’t show up when everything’s aligned and smooth. It doesn’t ambush you out of nowhere just to ruin your day. Anxiety often appears when we’re living out of sync, bending over backward to play some role, wear some mask, or live up to expectations that aren’t even ours. It’s the “Hey, quit the BS!” alarm from your soul, waving red flags to get your attention.
So, if anxiety’s showing up, maybe it’s time to stop running and start listening. I know that’s not the advice most of us want to hear, but here’s a guide on how to lean in, even when everything in you just wants to escape.
1. Stop Treating Anxiety Like the Enemy
The first step? Drop the fight. Anxiety’s not here to ruin you—it’s actually here to realign you. It feels intense, yes, but it’s not an intruder. Instead of pushing it away, try thinking of it as a message that got lost in translation. Your body, your mind, your whole self is trying to communicate something real, and that discomfort? It’s the signal.
2. Sit With It, No Matter How Uncomfortable
Alright, here’s where it gets real. Sitting with anxiety is tough. It’s itchy, it’s uncomfortable, and every instinct might tell you to get up, get distracted, or numb out. But here’s a trick: just stay put. Let the discomfort rise.
Close your eyes, feel where that anxiety hits in your body. Is it your chest? Your throat? Notice it, breathe into it. When it gets intense, remind yourself it’s just energy moving through—an emotion trying to tell you something. Just let it flow without shutting it down.
This part is hard, but the discomfort is temporary. It won’t crush you, and honestly, it’ll probably start to ease when you stop fighting it.
3. Ask It What It Wants to Say
Once you’re sitting with it, you can take this deeper by actually asking your anxiety questions. Yes, talk to it. Try asking things like:
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“What’s out of balance in my life?”
“Where am I not being true to myself?”
“What am I avoiding that I need to face?”
And here’s the thing—don’t try to force answers. Just ask and then let the thoughts come up on their own. You might be surprised by what you hear. Anxiety has a way of pointing to truths we’re not seeing or facing.
4. Listen Without Judgment
When answers start coming up—maybe you realize you’re over-committed to something that doesn’t feel right or that you’re hiding parts of yourself to fit in—listen without judgment. This is a big one.
Our tendency is to dismiss it: “Oh, I’m just overreacting.” But what if you’re not? What if your anxiety actually has a point? Try sitting with whatever comes up without labeling it “good” or “bad.” Just let it be what it is.
5. Thank Your Anxiety (Yes, Really)
Finally, show a little gratitude. Anxiety isn’t exactly lovable, but it does have a purpose. When you start seeing it as a signal that can guide you back to your authentic self, it changes everything.
Thank it for showing up, for trying to keep you on track, and for holding you accountable to the life you actually want. You don’t have to love anxiety, but acknowledging it can soften your relationship to it.
Closing Thoughts
Look, anxiety is hard. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes intense, and rarely convenient. But what if every time it showed up, you used it as a chance to get back in touch with yourself? What if instead of running from it, you leaned into it, listened, and let it guide you back to what matters?
Anxiety isn’t the enemy—it’s a messenger. It’s a little rough around the edges, but if you sit with it, breathe through it, and actually hear what it’s trying to say, it’ll lead you to a life that feels real, aligned, and true.
So next time anxiety knocks, maybe don’t slam the door. Open up, listen, and find out what it has to teach you. It might just show you the path to the freedom and authenticity you’ve been craving.
Take the leap to reconnect with your truest self. Anxiety doesn’t have to keep you trapped—it can be the guide that shows you the way forward. If you’re ready to dive in deeper and discover the real message your anxiety’s been sending, let’s explore it together. Click “book your assessment” and take the first step to unmasking, listening, and finding the freedom that’s waiting for you.
Talk to you soon,
Zac