Anxiety Blues: a Reminder to Give Grace

Wanna know a secret? 

Sometimes anxiety gets the best of me and prevents me from doing some of the smallest tasks. And the frustration that comes from the fact that I allowed anxiety to do such a thing often drives me to tears. 

How dare it? How dare I allow it? 

And it’s even worse when the task(s) involve(s) other people, because sometimes I really have a hard time deciding if I should inform them that I’m not feeling well and ask for grace (time) or if I should just take a moment (which could last hours or days) to regroup and get back to them when I can. 

The mixture of anxiety/overthinking, feelings of guilt & frustration, and crying often leaves me tired (like, wore the hell out). Sometimes the only thing I have energy to do is very little or nothing at all.

When I give myself a dose or two of grace (which I’m still learning how to do, by the way), assess what I’m thinking/feeling and compare it to reality, and take a moment to just rest and reset, I feel better. And soon afterwards, my determination to win (to overcome, to accomplish) kicks in and leads me right back to “trying again”. 

If I’m not careful, trying to play catch up (with things & people) can send me right back into that annoying, tiring cycle. 

The thing is, though … I am not anxiety. Anxiety is not me. Anxiety is another one of life’s complexities that has penciled its way into my story.

If you know, you know. And I hope after reading this, you feel seen and realize you’re not alone.

The truth is … You are not anxiety. Anxiety is not you. Anxiety is another one of life’s complexities that has penciled its way into your story. 

Unfortunately, we don’t always get to choose the struggles we experience. But we do always get to choose how we handle them.

As I encourage myself, I want to encourage you to continue to give yourself grace as you journey (progress) through life. 

Remember to breathe. Remember that we’re only humans doing the best we can.  Remember that it’s okay to take breaks and ask for help. 

We’re not defeated. We’re winners. We’re winning. And we win with strategy, with education, with rest, with grace, with faith, with love, and with determination. 

Thank God for that!