How I challenge my anxiety.

With integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt. – Zig Ziglar

When I was a kid, I was VERY anxious.  New situations that I think most people would happily go into, would terrify me.  I missed school, parties, trips and a number of other things that I should never have because of it. Thankfully, my mom also forced me to do a lot of things and over time I learned how to manage it.

I’m still a very anxious person but when my anxiety starts to really build, I’ve learned that I need to follow some very simple steps to deal with it and it all starts with me being honest with myself.  I think hard about what’s bothering me and then start trying my absolute best to make ANY part of what’s bothering me, better and when I do that, my anxiety starts to subside.

Don’t believe me?  Think of it this way…

Honesty leads to Belief

Belief leads to Action

Action leads to Results

Results lead to Progress

Progress eliminates Helplessness

Eliminated Helplessness leads to Confidence

Confidence eliminates Fear.

In the martial arts, whether it be karate, judo, Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu or anything else, we face challenges (learning a new skill, training with someone that we’re not comfortable with etc.) and sometimes they feel so big that they feel like their going to cripple us but when we get REALLY honest with ourselves, and we start facing them, the anxiety, fear and everything else that goes along with those emotions fade.  That’s how the martial arts builds confidence.

This week, grab a fear and shake the heck out of it by getting really honest with yourself about it and taking some action towards it.

To your success,

Michael