When I’m worrying about various things in my life, I do whatever I can to bring myself back to the present moment. Over the years I’ve been fine-tuning my coping skills because I want to do this in the healthiest way possible for myself. I used to turn to things that weren’t serving me when I was feeling anxious because I didn’t know that other methods would work for me, and I honestly didn’t even want to try. I was living under a lot of limiting beliefs in those days, and my capacity for self-love and self-care have grown immensely since then. Choosing self love over fear of the unknown was my first step in releasing this pattern of worry. Another important step is identifying where your worry is coming from in order to recognize how you can let it go.
My worry often stems from the pressure of things that are currently on my to-do list or upcoming stressful events that will require a lot of effort. The anticipation of these events can be compounded by holding ourselves to an impossible standard. I’ve been healing my perfectionism for years, and I still find that I’m extremely critical of my work if I’m not giving myself grace in a conscious and tangible way. Focusing so much on this anticipation of future stress robs us of our ability to enjoy the now moment. This moment, after all, is the one where we truly exist. If we can allow ourselves to appreciate the present moment regardless of the circumstances, and begin to understand that everything is temporary, we can start to feel the peace that comes from being in the flow of life instead of constantly struggling against it.
When I’m struggling to remember this during a difficult time, I bring my focus back to my breath. Deep breathing for a certain amount of time, or during a favorite song can help to bring you back to the now moment. Listening to meditative music or Solfeggio Frequencies can also help to release stress and re-center during stressful times. I also try to give myself frequent breaks and snacks when I’m feeling extra stressed, and I try to be mindful about whether my snacks are fueling my peace or feeding my anxiety. I find that excess sugar and caffeine tend to ramp up my stress in these situations, so I avoid them and reach for things that will help me feel more centered and grounded.
There are also many herbal supplements that can help to bring you balance and calm, and I would encourage you to do your own research and discuss them with your medical provider. I find that CBD products, lemon balm, and Valerian root are the most effective ones for me personally, but everyone should be cautious and aware about what goes into their body. I avoid giving anyone recommendations about what supplements might be right for them because I’m not a qualified medical practitioner. There are also many other natural ways to reduce stress and worry without supplements, such as stretching, meditation, listening to music, yoga, spending time with your loved ones, artistic projects, and anything else that helps you relax and breathe easier.
The most important part of releasing worry is replacing it with an emotion that feels better. If we really want to be happier over time, we have to find ways to make ourselves a little happier every day. Doing any activity that brings you joy will help you to reduce your time spent worrying, and that’s a small victory that you should celebrate as often as possible. Finding beauty in all things is a challenge, but maybe you could find beauty in three more things than you did yesterday. There’s no overnight remedy for releasing worry, but there are so many better things that you could do to fill your time, and I’m sure you can think of a few of them right now. My challenge to you is this: find three small things that you enjoy that you can do to enrich your life today. Create a list in the notes app on your phone, and keep adding to your menu of calming activities over time. This way, when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by worry, you’ll be able to choose how you would like to find your peace in that moment. Give yourself time to recover when this happens, and try to be present with yourself while you’re moving through your emotions. You deserve love, peace, and joy. Be a safe place for yourself.