Responding to anxiety (rather than reacting to it)
Anxiety provokes an instant reaction “get me out of here”. This is called aversion. The appearance of anxiety feels like a set-back but fighting it is much worse. Beyond anxiety lies acceptance which is the greater gain. We feel fear, even a sense of panic as we sense the arrival of this familiar uncomfortable visitor, we feel it rising from the abdomen to the chest or throat. We notice our desire to move away from it but instead of reacting with avoidance we respond with our attention: we observe, and accept our body and mind ─ just as they are in that moment; no running away, no believing that it…