Interrupt Anxiety with Joy

Now if this sounds like a super far out of reach statement, no worries!

How can I interrupt my anxiety with joy when anxiety feels so terrible? During high-anxiety moments, finding joy is really, really hard. Almost impossible. But I am talking about finding joy “in-between” those anxious moments.

When I get anxiety, (typically at night in bed), I usually have to just let it be and pass. Usually sucks and feels like it’s never going to end, but it will subside, even just a little bit at some point. And if I can find a moment of joy during those in-between times, and continue to do so, it positively impacts my mental health more than I could ever realize.

It’s as if you were trying to become more flexible. You may start off with one tiny stretch a day, then add on the next day and next day, until your muscles really start to loosen. Some days you might forget to stretch, but eventually you come back. Then after that pause/break all of the sudden you become 10 times more flexible.

For me, sometimes finding joy during those really hard times can feel impossible. I feel like I am always analyzing my mind, but it really does add up.

My favorite way to find joy is stepping outside and finding any bit of nature.

Knowing it’s alive, it’s growing, it’s just being. I also like to send light to that piece of nature that catches my eye and thank it for being there - because it gave me a moment of joy, and sending good energy back is my thank you to it.

Interrupting anxiety with joy is not easy. And it’s a lifelong practice for me. Sometimes I go back and sometimes I go forward. But I know it is an act of self-love, whether I am feeling self-love that day or not. It all adds up and I will keep going as this is a daily practice with no end goal. I am just allowing myself to find some liberation from my constant, overthinking, anxious mind.