Anxiety: Best of 2015 List

Few people would place anxiety among their "best of 2015" lists. It is, though, that time when the year winds down and "best of" lists abound. Is it possible to make a list entitled "Anxiety: Best of 2015?" Not only is it possible, it's actually a pretty good thing to do (How To Create An Emergency Anxiety Tool Kit). Here's how to make a best of 2015 list for anxiety and why you should consider making one of your own.

Creating a best of 2015 list for anxiety is a potent way to examine your own unique experience with anxiety disorders. Anxiety likes to control us by taking over our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic, and more can overshadow and overwhelm, blocking our path to wellbeing and a life worth living.

No matter how intense and how debilitating anxiety seems, it isn't who you are (What Does Anxiety Say About You?). It doesn't control all of you. Examining your anxiety and thoughtfully, creating an anxiety: best of 2015 list is a way to step back and notice that you can, and do, create good in your life despite anxiety; you really can rise above anxiety to live the life you dream.

Anxiety: Best of 2015--Thoughts and Emotions

Our thoughts and feelings are a huge part of who we are and our life experiences. Anxiety can make our thoughts race with fear, worry, and doubt, and our emotions often follow and mimic our thoughts. When we realize that our thoughts and feelings aren't always anxious, we can begin to separate ourselves from anxiety and change our thoughts and emotions for the better.

To create a best of 2015 list for your anxious thoughts and emotions, reflect thoughtfully. Perhaps examine your year month by month or ponder it by events both big and small. Look for those times when your thoughts were positive, on things other than anxiety--ditto feelings.

In a special journal, notebook, or even a Word document, begin your anxiety: best of 2015 list. Jot down positive thoughts and feelings you had this year. These can be about yourself, others, situations, places, things, events, and more. Capture those times when anxiety didn't completely dominate (maybe it was present, but so were other thoughts and feelings).

Anxiety: Best of 2015--Moments

During what moments was your anxiety at its best in 2015? What was part of your life during the year? Where did you go? What did you do? Who were you with? Identify the times and events when anxiety wasn't debilitating. It doesn't have to have been fully absent. In what moments was anxiety best of 2015?

Identifying the context of improved anxiety is often helpful so you can look for patterns and determine what moments and types of activities decrease your anxiety.

Anxiety: Best of 2015--The Best You

Anxiety might be part of your life, but it most definitely is not who you are. Making a list of anxiety: best of 2015 as it relates to you, your whole self, is a great way to realize that anxiety doesn't define you.

It's tempting for us to define and describe ourselves based on our anxiety, our perceived flaws, and our shortcomings. That's not a balanced picture. Step back and consider who you truly are--not what you are dealing with, but who you are.

What do you do well? What are your character strengths? You are in this world, and you make a positive impact on life. Identify these things and add them to your growing list of anxiety: best of 2015.

Anxiety: Best of 2016

You will soon have an extensive (maybe it will be small at first, because anxiety makes it hard to think of strengths; that's anxiety, though, not you) list of the best of who you are. As you realize that you are more than your anxiety, you can use this list as a tool to move forward and rise above anxiety. What things were among your best of 2015 list? What do you want to do more of in 2016, and what new things do you want to add?

In creating an anxiety: best of 2015 list, you have a framework for crafting an amazing 2016, a year in which anxiety will not overshadow, overpower, and overwhelm; a year in which you soar above anxiety.

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