A life best lived

There are a million things to keep in balance when you’re trying to live consciously and successfully. It’s very easy to struggle with anxiety and to become overwhelmed with stress. In this chapter, we’ll explore some specific ways to navigate these difficult states, but if you feel yourself being completely altered by these states without reprieve, always speak with a professional. It is essential to listen to your emotional states, but this is different than allowing them to lead you into impulsivity. Pay attention to how your emotions affect you. When you are sad, your eyes wet and your chest tightens; when you’re angry, your eyes narrow and your body produces more heat; when you’re anxious, your heart pounds and your breath quickens. These are natural physical responses and shouldn’t be ignored. Notice them and develop an awareness of how each emotion feels in your body without judging it. Substance Substitutes When you’re sad, anxious, or stressed, you might feel tempted to find comfort in a romantic partner or a substance that alleviates that symptom for you. For a time these solutions fill that void and erase the effects, and that’s why so many people choose them. Sometimes it can feel like part of an aesthetic, something necessary to your art or expression, but a constant desire to escape your own reality only reveals insecurity with authenticity. Take a Breath If you find that you spend a lot of time in one state over another, consider your physical stressors and possibly speaking with a professional about how to navigate those states with care. One of the best ways to combat stress is to simply breathe. When you take the time to breathe deeply, it allows blood to reach your extremities and calms your heart rate. When you feel yourself experiencing stress symptoms: increased heart rate, racing thoughts, and quickened breath, breathe deeply and slowly to allow yourself to re-enter the situation with peaceful awareness. In yoga, breath work is built into the practice. If you find yourself easily stressed, consider incorporating yoga into your lifestyle to physically flush out stress. Getting outside in fresh air is another very calming antidote to stress (and it’s free). Self Care: All of the advice in this book is written with the intention of enabling you to live with greater confidence, but with so many things to implement at once, you may still experience elevated stress and anxiety. Above everything, listen first to yourself and extend grace and patience to honor your process. Self-care is your best friend when pressure kicks in. Make time to soak in the tub with some Epsom salt, lounge with a non-academic book, or watch your favorite movie. There’s no wrong way to go about self-care unless you’re simply refusing to do it. When stress goes unchecked, it can wreak havoc in our lives causing incessant lethargy, headaches, and even auto-immune disorders. You can still work towards your goals with intention and determination with breaks built in; in fact, you really have to. You’re not a robot, and can’t just work, work, work 24/7. Throughout this workbook, we’ve been highlighting incremental growth, patience, and balance as key tools to help you along your path. Owning your journey means knowing when to get off the couch, and when to sit back down to recharge your batteries. No one can tell you when those times are, but by listening to yourself nonjudgmentally, you’ll eventually get the hang of determining them for yourself.