I had struggled with the dreaded Anxiety for most of my life.  My mom had it.  My sisters and nieces struggle with it.  And I am certain other family members do also, but we don’t always talk about it :(. Because admitting that we have anxiety makes us seem kind of weak. 

“Just think differently.  Just don’t worry.  Just do something different – and it will simply disappear.” 

But it didn’t.  And I was resigned to it. 

Oh, I fought back!  I tried to do things differently than my mother.  I “white-knuckled” myself through public speaking, joining Choir, teaching kids about Jesus, and interviewing for new positions.  But I continued to feel unsafe within my own skin.

UNTIL-

I began to ask for help.  Anxiety limited my options.  Allowing others to mindfully guide my learning, offered relief. 

Strangely enough, my greatest learning came when I let go of control.

I kind of had to.  I got sick AGAIN.  For the third time, my body was facing something pretty significant.  And for the first time in my life, I decided to choose my health over my work schedule and take some time off. 

While I waited for surgery, I took the time to reach out –

• To God in an entirely different way – I began to be TOTALLY honest with Him about my struggles, fears, hopes, and wants.  And He listened and responded 😊  
• To coaches to help me with my health and with my business – and discovered that I work well with an accountability and encouragement partner.
• To supportive friends – those who wanted me to succeed, who gently showed me different ways of doing things, and who encouraged me EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!  They simply wanted what was best for ME and were happy to support me in every way that they could.   
• And, lastly to a medical program that helped me begin to understand why my body was reacting in this manner.  This program gave me hope that my Type 2 Diabetes could go into remission and not continue to ravish my body. 

And each of these people contributed to my life in a positive and joyful manner. 

I discovered that I had WAY TOO MUCH stress on my plate and that I needed to make some big changes around the way I thought and the way I viewed the world.

• And that is how I began to understand how to turn anxiety into peace
• How to turn stress into joy
• And how to hack the power of my brain and body to make significant, sustainable, doable, and joyful changes. 

If I can do it, so can you 😊

Read on for more on how I Overcame Anxiety.