Podcast Episode Summary
In this episode, Annaliese and Alan dive into the vital role even tough feelings like anxiety and worry play in our lives. They explore how understanding and getting familiar with these emotions lead you to deeper self-awareness and personal growth, instead of derailing you or taking over.
You’ll Hear About:
- The power of repetition in processing emotions: feeling your feelings little by little can seem like it's not helping much, but that's what actually creates the progress you need inside you. Emotions like anxiety carry important messages about what matters to you and what’s happening in your life.
- How anxiety often stems from things you can’t control or don’t fully understand—whether it’s uncertainty, health concerns, relationship issues, or performance pressures. Where does anxiety shows up for you? What’s it revealing about what you care about or need?
- The difference between anxiety (the energy in your body) and worry (thought patterns in your head). Worry can feel like unprocessed anxiety, which is why it’s crucial to recognize and address anxiety early on.
- How anxiety tries to focus you on what you don't have or don't know. Avoiding anxiety leads to emotional buildup in you that increases feelings of insecurity and adds to limiting beliefs like, “I’m not capable.” or "What if everything goes wrong?"
Practical Tools for Managing Anxiety & Worry:
- Notice when you’re focused on what you don’t have or know. What’s the support or information you might need?
- Pause and listen to your anxiety without jumping to action right away.
- Use anxiety’s messages to help you make aligned, confident choices—let it inform you, not steer your decisions.
EXERCISES
Close The Tabs:
- Picture your negative “What If” thoughts as browser tabs open in your head.
- Think of each “What If” as a question that needs an answer—otherwise, it stays open and weighs on you.
- Look at one “What If” at a time and respond with an answer (a truth, comfort, or guidance).
- Mentally close the tab with your answer. Try turning negative “What If” questions into positive ones: for example, “What if it goes well? What could that look like?”
“I’ve Done This Before”:
- Identify what your anxiety is telling you to worry about—what does it say you don’t have or know?
- Reflect on past experiences where you’ve handled something similar. What tools or strategies worked for you?
- Be specific about the evidence: What choices did you make? How did it feel? What helped you most?
- Remind yourself you’re safe and capable. Where do you now have more experience, resources, or confidence than before?
Your Free Coaching Call:
Want personalized support for your worry or anxious thinking? Schedule your own free Discovery Chat with Annaliese at linktree.com/coachannaliese to gain actionable insights for daily, real changes you can make, right where you are.
Listen in for how to feel and handle your anxiety and worry in ways that empower you, not derail you!
