Anxiety 101 — Why is change so scary?

Anxiety served us in olden tribal times when we had to fend off lions and tigers and find food and forage for it or else we die. But with constant emails, calls, IMs, a constant state of comparison, and finding we are not there yet serves no purpose.

It serves a purpose in the way that one feels that you are going through a problem-solving mode, but sometimes, in a deadlock situation, all it does is keep you busy for a longer time!!

Change is scary. Even positive change for that matter holds a plethora of opportunities for us. As widely said, a known devil is better than an unknown one. With the familiar environment, we are aware of the patterns, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The unknown just feels like a leap of faith. It will be filled with possibilities and learning!

A strange shortage of consciousness is created for everything in today’s world or a plethora of choices. Both are not great sometimes for our minds. It leads to reduced focus.

When stuck in seemingly not-great situations, Wayne Dyer offers a great story:

Chapter One of My Life

I walk down the street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It’s not my fault. I still take forever to find a way up.

Chapter Two

I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again, I can’t believe I’m in the same place! It isn’t my fault, but it still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three

I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it there and I still fall in! It’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It’s my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter Four

I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter Five

I walk down a different street.

Hope this helps!! Share your stories on how to manage falsely created anxiety a lot of times. Till then, Ciao!