Anxiety sucks. It messes with our emotions and makes it hard just to exist sometimes. But here's the irony: Anxiety clings to what we pay attention to. It's like anxiety has a favorite song on repeat, and that song is "All My Problems."

Think of your attention like a spotlight. When you aim it somewhere, that thing will seem bigger and brighter. Everything else, on the other hand, becomes blurry, unimportant, and virtually nonexistent.

Usually, you have control over where you shine your spotlight, and you might decide to focus on a funny meme, a cool TikTok, or the taste of your morning coffee. Anxiety, however, is a master at grabbing the spotlight and fixating it on anything that even hints at danger, whether it's a real threat or not.

Let’s imagine you're on a packed bus, heading home after a long day. You already feel stressed, and then you notice a guy with a furrowed brow, a woman yelling at a stranger next to her, and the lights start to flicker. Suddenly, the environment feels hostile. You get off feeling worse than when you got on, convinced the bus is a scary place filled with grumpy people. Your state of mind affects how you observe your surroundings and what you focus on. You might not see the bus was also filled with an old lady with a kind smile, a kid reading a comic book, and a couple holding hands.

Does this sound familiar? Anxiety's favorite game is distorting reality. It narrows your focus, making you see the world through a filter of worry and negativity.

The Self-Conscious Spiral

Have you ever felt super self-conscious in social situations? Like everyone's judging your every move? That's anxiety hijacking your spotlight again, but this time, the spotlight is on you. It makes you hyper-aware of how you're feeling, what you say, and how you look. This self-focused attention amplifies the anxiety, making it even harder to relax and connect with people.

But here's the truth: You're not a prisoner to your anxiety. You have the power to take back control. It starts with understanding how anxiety messes with your attention and learning how to redirect that spotlight.

What can you do?

Training your attention takes time and effort, but it's possible. Start small, be patient with yourself, and celebrate those small victories.

The bottom line? You have the power to choose where you focus your energy. By learning to redirect your spotlight, you can break free from anxiety's grip and create a reality that feels way less scary and way more awesome.

Along the Same Lines…

We love you,
Mona & The Sol TV Team ❤️

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