Should we encourage anxiety at some level? Most definitely, a healthy level of anxiety will lead you to accomplish things in life. Without that fear that we are not moving in the right direction, we end up stuck in one place almost complacent about it.
Paralyzing anxiety will block you from growing as a person in any way but healthy anxiety will help you do things no matter the fear.
We might think there are no benefits of an overactive central nervous system but there are quite a few benefits of healthy anxiety.
What is Healthy Anxiety?
Healthy anxiety is not an all-consuming and paralyzing fear that stops us from growing. Healthy anxiety is that self-doubt that’s there but it’s not threatening your sense of self-worth. Healthy anxiety is uncomfortable awareness and acceptance of the fact that things might not go as planned. What do you do then? You find a detour. You keep moving.
We are all sensitive to anxieties and that’s ok. However, healthy anxiety doesn’t lead us away from being centered and proactive.
Why We Should Encourage Healthy Anxiety? Is This How Healthy Anxiety Looks?
What are the Benefits of Healthy Anxiety?
Healthy anxious people are able to recognize catastrophic thinking and reframe the thoughts so they are more in line with reality. Yes, everything can go wrong but most likely it won’t go wrong. Instead of worrying about the worst-case scenario, healthy anxious people are working on solutions.
The fear that things might go wrong makes us work even harder, and once they put in the work, the fear is gone.
Attention to negative thoughts and events that happen is the hallmark of anxieties. Actions win the game. Instead of worrying for the whole day, people with a healthy level of anxiety might worry for an hour and then they move on and put in the work. Problem-solving is smarter, more efficient than rumination. Sometimes our coping skills for reducing stress are not working, and we need to change something. Healthy anxious people are able to recognize this and change the way they deal with stress.
Everyone talks about meditation as a coping skill for stress. Yes, subscribing to a mediation app and practicing daily can help your deal with racing thoughts but there is more that can be done. We shouldn’t become too preoccupied with ourselves without having time for others. Yes, we should be mindful and in the moment. We definitely should be grateful for what we have, but there is more to life than our own being and our own existence. What can we do for others? When we shift our focus from ourselves to others, we are becoming less anxious.
If you are facing anxiety, meditation can help but turning to others can help as well. Your self-confidence will grow once you start helping others, you will feel recharged and ready to move your life in the desired direction once you spend some time helping others.
Healthy Anxious People Know that Self-Discipline and Consistency Matter
Healthy anxious people know that consistency is the most important thing. Creating healthy habits, having reasonable to-do lists for work and home, staying productive, taking care of your emotional and physical wellness matters. To accomplish this, you need to be consistent without trying one more time all over again twice a week.
There is nothing wrong with owning your worry. Healthy habits and attitudes will help you manage daily anxieties.
If you feel like your level of anxiety is not healthy at all, don’t feel guilty about it. Anxiety disorders are real and you can get help. If you are dealing with paralyzing anxiety that keeps you from growing in life, contact your doctor, and find a professional who can help you.
