Nerves come and go, and our feelings are not consciously regulated. Trying to ignore feelings or move past anxieties is not something that comes easily, so having some tools to cope with anxious thoughts can be a great life skill to be used whenever needed.
When clogged up with negative emotions and fears, the brain is less productive in focusing on completing tasks, so performance levels decline. Pressure also has a negative impact on working memory and retrieval, causing people to feel flustered and forget important information. A tip to battling this phenomenon is to give yourself the opportunity to write down your worries in times of stress. Whether written in a journal or expressed aloud in a group setting, this method clears your mind of the negative thoughts and permits you to reenter the situation with a better mindset, free of worry. Freeing yourself of concerns before entering a scary situation can make you feel more confident and prepared to take on the challenge.
Another benefit of writing or expressing your fears is that it allows you to really think about the consequences of success and failure in a more calm and rational sense and gives you a wider perspective on the outcomes.
As for other tips on finding happiness, the simplest advice is to start small and focus on little things that make you smile. No matter how anxious or sad you are feeling, there is always a spark of light at the end of the tunnel. If you actively search for bits of light and maintain a positive attitude, happiness will find you.
More Tips to Calm Your Mind when Feeling Anxious:
- Meditate – breathing and relaxation, in any form, helps the body and mind to rejuvenate and flow with everyday stress
- Find a hobby – happiness can be found through activities you enjoy. Whether it is cooking, reading a book, writing poetry, playing a musical instrument, or painting – these activities can connect you to relaxing sensations and provide distractions from anxious thoughts.
- Talk to a someone – expressing feelings allows you to decompress and let go of negative thoughts. Another person’s perspective can also be helpful in understanding your stressors and it may feel good to have a safety net to approach when feeling down.
- Listen to Music – music has a huge influence on mood, and it can reset the atmosphere to a more calming environment.
References
- DiMotto, J. W. (1984). Relaxation. The American Journal of Nursing, 84(6), 754–758. https://doi.org/ 10.2307/3463719
- Harms, W. (2011, January 13). Writing about worries eases anxiety and improves test performance. University of Chicago News. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://news.uchicago.edu/story/writing-about-worries-eases-anxiety-and-improves-test-performance
- How to be Happy. (1855). The R. I. Schoolmaster, 1(9), 264–264. http://www.jstor.org/ stable/44787929
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