Before March of this year, I would not have described myself as an anxious person. I would go with the flow. I was flexible. I was relaxed, or so I thought. Two weeks of “stay-at-home” turned into three weeks, and then a month, which turned into the complete unknown. I turned into a mess. Suddenly, I lacked control over everything. My well laid-out schedule was gone. The plans I cultivated were torn up and tossed in the air like confetti. I felt completely lost and without direction. Every time I tried to take a step in one direction, four other things would pull at my attention. I began to feel as though I was spinning in circles. Every day I would wake up and think – today is the day I will shake this funk. Every night I would close my eyes feeling the weight of the stress and anxiety still pressing down on me. I found I was busy, constantly moving and yet I wasn’t moving forward with anything productive. Every step I would take forward would have me second guess myself and my worth. Was I doing the right thing at that moment? Should I really spend time on this or should I focus solely on helping my kids with their work? Guilt clouded every thought. I felt guilty that I wasn’t using my time effectively and guilty complaining because I have a warm, safe place while there are others who can’t claim the same. With no end in sight I couldn’t make plans or build on my carefully constructed box. I was floundering and feeling so overwhelmed. Looking for any solution, I was grateful for the opportunity to complete the Free 5 Day Anxiety Detox Challenge and share the experience with you.
This free challenge is exclusively for anyone feeling overwhelmed, super stretched and stressed, time-constricted and struggling to get focused, and cut through the daily grind of their sabotaging, anxiety-bending mindset. I checked all those boxes. Having the rug ripped out from under my feet has taken its toll on me as a parent, as a wife, as a small business owner, and as my own unique person. After completing this Free 5 Day Anxiety Detox Challenge I feel like I am not alone in these feelings of overwhelm and inadequacy. The challenge has given me the tools to better deal with anxiety and finally after weeks of flounderin feel as though I am able to move forward in a positive direction even in the midst of chaos.
I love to surround myself with people who do great things, who are smart, and who are caring. I love reading books that push my thinking and creativity. As I build this world of greatness around me, I fall in the trap of not feeling good enough. I often compare myself to others and feel as though I am not doing enough to pull my weight in the world. I read about my Ruth Bader Ginsberg and I think - she is amazing, she has done so much and means so much to so many people. Have you seen her workout routine, at 87 the women is a machine! And there are days when I can’t even respond to an email in a timely manner. Nevermind foster legislation that supports the rights of every American woman. On days like this I feel like the world is moving forward without me. Everyone is putting one foot in front of the other and making progress and a difference, and here I am looking at the same email for three hours. Why do I keep getting up and doing laundry and finding other projects instead of staying focused. Why am I the only one in the world who fills her day with unnecessary busyness. For the longest time, maybe even before the stay at home order was set in place, I struggled with the feeling of not being enough. After completing the Free 5 Day Anxiety Detox Challenge I realized I am not alone in that thinking. I am not the only one who does these self-sabotaging actions. I am not alone. It isn’t a problem with me, it is the way I am letting my anxiety and negative thoughts control me.
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On day three of the challenge we were asked to print and sign a declaration about detoxing negative, anxious feelings. I was listening to the video as I was making my son a snack, as Kris read the declaration I stopped dead in my kitchen. I stood completely still because she was talking directly to me. My son had to wait a few more moments as I stopped everything and ran to print a copy of the declaration. I immediately highlighted the second line. “I will commit to challenging my thoughts and feelings that have no basis, facts or logic to them, and will not use busyness as a reason for not taking Massive Imperfect Action and focus on the things I can control.” As I was doing a busy task it was exactly what I needed to hear. More importantly, I am not alone in this feeling. If she is saying these words having never met me, there are others out there who feel this weight too. I can’t compare myself to others, but I can take actions every day to get me to the person I want to be and achieve the success I want. What I can control is not being weighed down by the little things and I can start to take those Massive Imperfect Actions. I printed the sheet and hung it on my office wall as a daily reminder.
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For the past seven weeks, I felt that there was something wrong with me because I was safe and comfortable in my home, healthy with plenty of food and activities. I was slowly losing control and then I would feel guilty that I was feeling bad when I had so much to be thankful for. And as the cycle rolled, the worse I began to feel. For the first time that I could remember I felt like I had no control. For me control was an on/off switch. I either had it or I didn’t. Each day of the challenge I was given a new tool to give me power over the control I have and to help me release the control I didn’t have. Day two challenged me to choose a mantra that really spoke to me. A phrase I could return to day after day and year after year. I chose a quote from Siddhartha, a quote that I have loved for years and return to for all different phases of my life. Each time it rings true to my life in a new way.
| You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserves your love and affection. Siddhartha Gautama |
Dealing with this crisis as a parent is tenfold harder than if you were dealing with it alone. There are others who are relying on us to provide answers and security when we don’t have either. Through the Free 5 Day Anxiety Detox Challenge I found that I need to focus on myself and the control I do have, not on what I can’t control. When I make those little adjustments, give myself grace and love, I become a better parent, a better wife, and a better friend. This challenge showed me that I am not alone in these feelings and stressors and I need to use the tools provided to me to take care of myself and to complete those Massive Imperfect Actions. Free 5 Day Anxiety Detox Challenge has lifted a weight off of my shoulders and given me a new look on life. I encourage you to take the 5 Day challenge too. It is a few minutes each day to rest your mindset and take back some of the control that we have all lost in this crazy time. If you find you need more than just the challenge, reach out to Kris for the Breakthrough Coaching (cost applies). This coaching experience will help you become more decisive and address those internal self-sabotaging beliefs that hold you back from becoming more influential, purposeful, and having successful outcomes. This is for anybody going through a life transition, feels out of control, or just stuck in the daily grind. It is one-on-one weekly coaching sessions that help the individual master their skill set more efficiently so they can have high performance in all areas of their life.
I was compensated for this review, but all opinions, thoughts, and transformations are my own.
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To find out more about the Free 5 Day Anxiety Detox Challenge and all the other services provided by My Anxiety Link, visit their website at MyAnxietyLink.com or contact Kris Henderson MA, LPC.
