Instant Cure For Anxiety | Quick Tip Entry # 4

It seems that everyone deals with anxiety nowadays. And for good reason.

We live in a faced paced society. We are more connected with electronics than each other. Our diet isn't the best. We are living to please other people (i.e.; our boss, spouse, parents, etc).

These are a lot of things to change. It could take months or years. And maybe some people can't (or won't) change them.

That's OK. For now, I have an easy and instant solution for anxiety.

Odds are, you're feeling anxiety because of something that may happen. You're thinking about work the next day. You're worried about your exam next month. You're nervous about Tuesday's presentation.

It's OK to feel anxiety over these things. It means you care. If you had a neutral reaction, you may not prepare for your exam or show up for work!

But anxiety is still not a nice feeling. Especially when it keeps you from living in the present moment...

I think I hit the nail on the head that time. "It keeps you from living in the present moment".

My response to that? Put yourself in the present moment. Turn off electronics and get rid of distractions. Sit down and really put all your attention on what is happening right now. The sounds, sights, taste, smells, and feels (LOL). Tell yourself that you are in the present moment.

It takes some practice. You may feel a little uncomfortable at first. But once you really grasp what it means to be in the present moment and do it on a regular basis, you will start to feel better.

For me, it feels like my anxiety instantly disappears. It may come back again a little while, but I'll just bring myself back to the present again. :)

And remember. Just because it doesn't work the first time doesn't mean that it will never work. It's a practice. Keep at it.

Ang

Check out the link to my past previous:

Easy Way To Overcome Difficult Times

If you're interested in learning more about anxiety, check out the following links:

Why You Will Never Be Completely Free Of Anxiety

Does Your Job Give You Anxiety? Don't Distract Yourself... Do This Instead!

We Can Only Go Forward

The past is over. It's gone. There is nothing we can do about it. But we do have right now and a future to look forward to.

I was inspired last night while I was watching the TV show Switched At Birth. Daphne, one of the main characters, had been making poor choices and is now faced with some major consequences. While she was wallowing, her mother told her that there is no going back. Only forward.

I think it's safe to say that everyone is aware of this. They know they can't go back in the past and undo or redo anything. Yet, people often say "should've, would've, could've". This makes me believe that people cognitively understand this saying but they are not truly grasping the significance of it.

So we can't go back in time. But we can go forward. Really let that previous sentence resonate with you. We can go forward. We do have second chances. All the time. We can correct the mistakes we have made. We can start right now so that we can have a better future to look forward to. That's incredible. Almost magical.  

I also lived with regrets. Here is an example. In high school I was a very reserved, introverted, awkward girl. I didn't have a big social life. Later in my life, I found friends with similar interests to my own. Now, I have a lot of fun. Well, what I consider fun. I use to think back to my high school days and regret not living it to the fullest. I see it differently now though. I lived my high school life the way I did because I had to learn, grown and discover. Now I have fun almost every day! Why would I regret that?

I have another example. Up until a couple of years ago I did not harness my talents. When I started drawing again, I wondered how good I would be now if I did. But what really matters is that I'm drawing now. I can even see a difference in my ability over the past few months. Imagine how good I will be in 5, 10, 20 years from now? It doesn't matter that I didn't draw 5 years ago. What matters is I'm drawing now.

Always remember that the past happened for a reason. You might never understand the reason but I promise that there is a valuable lesson to take from it. If you have regret, make a difference now. If you done someone wrong in the past, become a better person now. If you regret not taking singing lessons back then, register for them now. And please. Stop living in the past. It will take you from now, leave you with more regrets, and make you miserable.

Be the change.

Hope this blog finds you well. Thanks for reading.

Ang

Don't Have Time To Meditate? Read This!

Guys, I'm not going to lie. It's a beautiful day here in Newfoundland. The first hot day of the season. I have a list of topics of things I'd like to blog about and for today, I picked one short and sweet.

 I (use to) often schedule time to meditate. I would allow 20, 30, even 60 minutes to meditate. I would do this when I could be left alone. If there were any distractions, that would be an excuse to skip out on meditation.

 It's fine if you want to schedule a meditation time. I still do as well. But if you're looking for the perfect moment to meditate, it's not going to happen very often. The good news is that there is something else you can do. You don't need to schedule a time; you don't need the perfect moment. All you need is a moment. And your breath. It's called mindfulness meditation. This is when you become 100% fixated on what you are doing and your surroundings. If you have a passion or hobby you take part in, you may understand what I am talking about. You sort of "lose" yourself. Time passes and you don't realize. Your attention has been on what you are doing.

 You can do this literally with anything. Taking a shower? Pay attention to the sound of the water running, how the water feels when it's on your body, the smells from products you may use. Doing the laundry? Notice how the clothes feels in your hands and pay attention to how you fold it. Periodically bring your attention to your breath. Breathe deep from your diaphragm. Don't worry your mind wanders away. Bring it back to your breath and what you're doing. Do this 100 times if you have to. And there you go! You're living in the present moment. It's that simple.

 Also, distractions can be used to your advantage. Put all your attention on them. Even if they are unpleasant or annoying. They deserve love to!

 Now you have no excuse!

 I would love to hear from you. What do you do to meditate?

 Have a great day (even if the sun isn't shining),

 Ang

Here is a link to a more in-depth tutorial on how to meditate:
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/04/meditation-for-dummies.html

Edit no. 1: I'm not sure why this is saving as one big paragraph when I actually put paragraphs in it. I'm new to all this and I'm not tech-savvy so please be patient. :)

Edit no. 2: I have figured out why my paragraphs weren't spacing. I was writing in HTML instead of compose. It's a learning experience right?!

How To Enjoy Your Trip To The Fullest

I have been having a deep desire to travel this past couple of years. I have had a couple of dreams recently that I was going to England and Germany. I'm currently looking into going somewhere within the next few months.

Traveling is also very daunting. Especially when you are going solo or with people who are not experienced travelers. Last May, me and my brother, out of almost no where, booked a flight and accommodations to go to California. Naturally, when the date of our flight got closer, I became worried and I wondered if I made a mistake. Should we have went with more people? Are we safe? How will we get around? What if we get lost? Should we have waited for a better time?

Let me tell you. If you have the money and resources to travel, there will never be a better time. Yes, it is intimidating but it is also an incredible learning experience and an opportunity for growth. It's always a matter of perspective.

Looking back on my visit major excursion, I made a couple of mistakes. Not mistakes that made me regret my trip. More like, mistakes that held me back from enjoying my trip to the fullest. I will definitely keep these "mistakes" is mind next time I travel. But for now, I would like you to read them. I hope they resonate within you and help you make the most of your next trip (and life, in general).

1. Go With The Flow

While it's important to have a plan (i.e., places you would like to see, the hotel you are going to stay), try not to obsess over every detail. This can take you out of being in the moment and that is kind of the opposite of a vacation or get-away, in my opinion. As long as you are being safe, have a cell phone, and a GPS or map, don't be afraid to get "lost". Explore a little. You will never know what you may find. These make the best stories and memories!

2. Try Not To Feel Out Of Place

When I first arrived in the Los Angeles, I felt that everyone was looking at me thinking "there's a Canadian girl here". This can be especially so if you do not look like the people around you. Which made me feel more vulnerable when I was in Korea Town. In actuality, no one is judging you and who cares if they do. These feelings only prevented me from truly enjoying the moment. Be confident in yourself and have fun. And ask yourself what your reaction would be if you say a tourist where you are from. I'm sure it would not be a negative reaction.

3. Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes

The general routine in California is much different than where I'm from. I was scared I would make a mistake and look like I was being disrespectful and I felt stupid if I asked a question. Not only did this stop me from doing things that I would have liked to do, it also took me from the present moment. Don't worry to much if you make a mistake or need to ask a question. If you do this you are really making the most of your trip, in my opinion.

4. Do Not Be So Obsessed With Time

I was always so afraid we were going to miss our bus. Because of this, we ended up leaving some places before we really had the chance to explore them. Is it really a big deal if you miss a bus? There will always be another. A cabs are readily available as well. Breathe. Take your time. Explore and enjoy.

With all that being said, it's still important to be a smart traveler. Plan and prepare well in advanced. Have a taxi number in your phone. Don't go anywhere alone at night. And if something doesn't feel right, don't do it. But there is a difference between being unsafe and being obsessive.

These suggestions are based on my experience of one recent trip. I'm sure I could easily write an updated or revised list after another experience.

I hope this helps.

I wish you a wonderful vacation :)

Ang

This is when I was in Santa Monica. I really wanted to stay longer, but I was afraid I would miss my bus and never get back to my hotel. Why I didn't go there another day I have no idea.