It is natural for us to get anxious. With so many things happening in our lives, and with the uncertainties we live with, anxiety can creep up on us very quickly and very often. And yet we know that anxiety is not good for us. We can only deal with our anxiety when we reflect, understand, and deal with the underlying causes in us that lead to our anxiety.

Anxiety comes from fear of the unknown. When we allow our mind to run wild thinking about all that which could happen, we breed worry and make ourselves anxious. But if we learn to live in the now, bringing our mind back to the present every time it drifts into its fantasy, we protect ourselves from becoming anxious. Of course we need to plan for the future, but what we need to drop is the anxiety of what can happen.

It comes from the need to control. When we have a picture-perfect idea of life, and when we find life’s picture out of our ideal frame, rather than adapting our frame, we try and control the picture. Life teaches us that we cannot control everything, so when we build acceptance, adaptability, and faith within, we protect ourselves from becoming anxious.

It comes from ego. Our self-image becomes so important to us that we start getting anxious if we believe that the opinion of others is becoming unfavourable. Interestingly, most times this is a figment of our imagination, because those who know us and with whom we have a strong relationship, will not waver in their opinion of us; and those who do, we are better served recognising and resetting our relationship with them. When we are secure within rather than finding security in the opinion of others, we protect ourselves from becoming anxious.

Life is precious. For sure things will happen which thrill us and trouble us. Every day brings a new opportunity to build a better life for ourselves. We need to start by maximising the moment and dropping our anxiety.

(Picture- Nashik, near Mumbai)