“All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry - all forms of fear - are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”
― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

We all experience anxiety at some time in our lives, however when it is the norm we are putting a lot of stress on our bodies and immune system.

Anxiety is common when we are worrying about future events. What will happen if, what if I upset someone, and what is I mess up? Are all questions that we tend to ask ourselves on a regular basis.

The fear of being seen as less than another, or not good enough, or not considerate enough leaves us riddled with anxiety and more anxious thoughts.

Some anxiety is good for us. It activates the fight or flight action within us and lets us know we are in danger. This is the natural way of dealing with challenges in front of us. In this day and age, our natural way of being has become more inward directed.

Rather than being calm and peaceful, and dealing ti situations as they arise, it has become more ‘normal’ to worry about everything; which inhibits our ability to deal with anything in front of us.

Anxiety is caused by anxious thinking, self loathing and a deep seated fear of not being good enough. We have turned anxiety in on ourselves and now live from that place every day.

When you feel anxious, why not try these simple steps to help lessen the strength of the anxiety attack:

* Check in with yourself and how you are feeling, and take a couple of deep breaths to centre yourself
* Feel the effects it is having through your body - palpitations, dizziness, shallow breathing etc
* Ask yourself if the thoughts you are having are real or perceived
* Is this anxious thought likely to happen or is it a fear?
* Ask yourself - how can I think differently about this?
* Imagine yourself safe, happy and in your favourite place where you are not in danger or harms way

The body goes into a reaction as if the thought was real and happening at that moment. You experience the effects physically and emotionally without anything even happening. It was only a thought that created the reaction, and another one can undo it.

Practicing mindfulness and self awareness as above, can really help you to start taking control of your anxious thoughts and to lessen the toll they are taking on your body; and self esteem.