The next attitude is: just do it.
We’ve probably all heard that phrase.
Or, as Susan Jeffers famously put it in the title of her book:
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.
And this is a fantastic attitude to develop when you’re overcoming anxiety.
In fact, it can make the difference between living a full life and watching your life gradually become smaller and smaller.
So what does ‘Just do it‘ mean when it comes to anxiety?
It means:
Do it in spite of how you feel.
And this is a really important principle to understand.
It’s not how you feel that matters. It’s what you do that counts.
Anxiety can feel horrible. And because it feels horrible, it’s very easy to start avoiding things.
I’ll do it when I feel better.
I’ll go when I’m less anxious.
I’ll wait until I feel confident.
But if you continually wait until you feel right before you act, anxiety begins deciding what you can and can’t do and your life gets smaller and smaller.
So instead:
Just do it in spite of how you feel.
You can feel anxious and still do it.
You can have anxious thoughts and still do it.
You don’t have to get rid of the anxiety first.
Remember, these sensations are like a false alarm alarm. They’re a trick, a con, a bluff. They will pass.
So don’t allow the bluff to decide how you live your life.
That is the key to overcoming anxiety.
If you just do it, you’re much more likely to feel better afterwards anyway.
Just do it changes how you feel. The good feelings come later.
It’s the same as someone on a diet. You have to overcome the food cravings before you lose weight and begin to feel better.
But there’s another level to this attitude:
Do it no matter what.
When you’re overcoming anxiety by just doing it, there can still be a part of you saying no — holding back, feeling timid.
So turn the no into yes by just doing it no matter what.
Because when you do it no matter what, you’re making a total commitment. And making that total commitment is so important in overcoming anxiety.
When you commit totally, the con, the lie and the bluff of those anxious thoughts begin to diminish.
Just do it in spite of how you feel.
Do it no matter what.
That is the path to feeling better.
Next – Really useful tip – click here
Important Principle – – – Attitude – – – Focus Attitude
Present Moment – – – – Acceptance – – It’s Not Me
No Matter What – – – Little Steps – – Persistence