For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to deal with anxiety. And though I’ve learned to deal with it since I’ve grown up – I do still have issues now and then. It mainly hits me at night – just before I go to bed.

I’m lying there trying to go to sleep, and all I can think about are the things I have to do the next day – and if I forget one thing, or if something doesn’t work out right, I could lose my house, or who knows what else. It tends to spiral from there. And then, next thing I know it’s 3am and I am still not asleep.

And the thing is, I know that there isn’t any point in worrying. It doesn’t get me anywhere, and I sure as heck have realized that 99% of the stuff I worry about never ever happens.

And I also know that this kind of behavior does nothing but simulate a “fight or flight” mentality in my body. See, my body (and yours too, when you let anxiety and stress rule your life) can’t tell the difference between real danger and imagined danger. And when your body thinks it is in danger, it goes into panic mode.

The results of your body being in panic mode is that your body produces an excess amount of cortisol which causes your body to store excess fat. It also keeps you from losing weight, and can make you both depressed and excessively tired. None of that is good, right?

So, here’s what I do to counteract this part of my personality.

First, I practice Alternate Nostril Breathing. It helps your body calm down naturally, and tricks your mind into thinking you are “safe”.

Second, I use something I learned from Bryan Tracy (an amazing psychologist). I think about the thing I’m worried about, and I ask myself – worst case scenario, what if it does happen? Will I live? And, yeah, I generally will. The results may suck, but I will live through it, whatever it is.

Also, thing Bryan Tracy says is that you should put whatever you need to into place to make sure whatever it is that you are worried about cannot happen! This may or may not be possible in every case – but you’ve got to do your best. Then you have a clear conscious.

And finally, I keep a notebook and pen by my bed to make sure that I’m able to write down anything that pops up, so I don’t forget to deal with it the next day. Then my mind can relax.

Trust me, anxiety doesn’t do anything good for you. Learn can learn to overcome it, and it may be the missing puzzle piece to losing the extra weight.

In love and service,