I've been thinking a lot
about anxiety lately. I've spent much of my time working on my
phobias, incorporating exposure therapy and meditation into my
evolving lifestyle. With this time spent on myself, I've had little
time or passion to keep my stories going.
I haven't let guilt
to rear up (“why aren't you writing?”). Instead I sat on it,
trusting that something would come along, something would pique my
interest. And now something has.
This morning while I should
have been meditating I was having an epiphany. I wanted to
meditate, but my mind see-sawed between breath and thought. One idea
came after another and by the time I was done thinking I had solved
my problem of not having anything to write
about.
Eureka!
Why don't I write about
anxiety?
On a single sheet of paper I
had written fourteen topics. Each topic was related to anxiety. In
the next couple of months I hope to develop these ideas into a blog
series: The Tao of Anxiety. I'm sort of revamping something I
had been working on early last year, but condensing its size and
scope to fit a more specific range of ideas (not to mention
implementing more learned experience than I had eighteen months ago).
Each post will be from my
personal perspective, my own experience. I've found in the past that
some with anxiety can relate to my concepts, and have benefited
from some of the ideas I have about social anxiety, phobias, and
panic attacks. That was in the past, and today I sit here with, I hope, a better grasp on what helps me, what makes
me worse, why I am the way I am, and what I can do to grow as a
person.
Yet I won't be writing these
posts for other people. I won't even be doing this for me. If you've
read some of my previous “spiritual” posts, you'll understand
when I say “I'll just be doing this.” I have no goal in mind
except to do it, to observe the experience.
A little unorthodox and perhaps too spontaneous for our culture, but let's see where it takes us :)
Further Reading:
Tao of Anxiety: Series
Further Reading:
Tao of Anxiety: Series
Posts
That sounds like a great idea. Who know's how many people will realize the same thing and try to help themselves after reading what you have to say :D I can't wait to read them.
ReplyDeleteYou are an interesting person, and the concept and reasons behind what you're doing are inspirational despite the fact that that isn't your goal. You are a person who is not simply rolling over and letting his anxieties be an excuse for attention, you're observing them and growing as a result.
ReplyDeleteTrue growth comes from allowing ourselves to grow from our experiences. I'm happy you're doing this, no matter the reason, and I'm glad I met you over at G+.
I'm depositing your vote of confidence :D
DeleteThanks a ton, Shawn!
I agree that once you write about anxiety for someone else, you'll possibly develop some anxiety too. :)
ReplyDeleteHa, I hope not!
DeleteGreat post! I really learned a lot. Everyone has some phobia I'm sure, whether it is small or big. And exposure therapy seems like it really would work. Thanks for sharing and informing. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
Delete