Take action

Anxiety and depression tend to be birds of a feather, and are often characterized by the same mental habits – overly tuned to self. They’re marked by a turning inward and a heightened awareness of self. Some versions of it need clinical and medicinal help. Not so for all, or perhaps even most.

In our current era of heightened anxiety and depression, we tend to spend MORE time, not less, focused on self and turning inward. This is especially true in school settings. Surveys, social emotional learning, check-in questions…all of it a well-intentioned focus on how one is feeling. The unfortunate truth is that generalized anxiety and non-acute depression (which encompass most individuals) is not solved by spending MORE time looking inward. In fact, it’s likely to exacerbate the problem. The same is true of adults. If we want to feel better, it’s imperative we spend less time ruminating and focused on our own feelings of sadness or anxiety. Spend more time on the needs of others. Spend more time playing, especially outside. Spend more time focused on a challenging task. It’s no surprise that flow states are marked by an ABSENCE of emotions, and flow states are one of the most rewarding human experiences. Do a hard thing you enjoy and get lost in it.

Do the work to be able to access and name your emotions. Do the work to become more of who you are. This does take internal work, no doubt. The difference that this is internal work with a purpose. Not endless sitting in and perseverating on feelings. It’s work, rather, that drives toward action. Toward building and becoming. To become who you’re meant to be requires ACTION. Don’t allow yourself to get lost in the inner world. Write, get clarity, then act. Act into discomfort, act into anxiety. Act in alignment with what you believe, not how you feel. Acting in this fashion will provide, over time, a more rewarding and satisfying life – the life we’re meant to live.