We have all been touched by anxiety in some way. It is either in us, or someone in our family, or possibly a close friend or coworker — whether we realize it or not. If you have ever experienced anxiety, you know its a bugger! In my direct experience with it, I find that it often sneaks up on us while we are unaware. It seems to come more from the subconscious than the conscious, and it is not always logically grounded in anything.
For example, if I just lost my job and I have been applying at hundreds of workplaces with no sign of employment, while my bank account drains and the bills pike up — anxiety might seem logical. However, when things are generally going well personally, and yet I begin to feel it under the surface, the source is harder to detect.
SOMEONE PAID THE PIPER
Someone paid the piper – we all sang along
Someone paid the piper – we all sang along
We’ve forgotten why we’re singing – we’re lost in the song
There are three specific things we all want and need:
1. Security (physically, financially, and emotionally)
2. Connection (relationships, feeling valued and accepted)
3. Control (empowerment, choices, and options)
When we feel anxiety, it’s because one of these three things is not as we expect, whether we know it consciously or not. Conscious or unconscious, this gap between expectation and reality is dissonance – and we don’t live well with dissonance. We need discernment to decide which end to move to close the gap: expectation, or reality.
I think I’ve lost some value – misled by silver’s wage
I think I’ve lost some value – misled by silver’s wage
30-piece from yesterday – it’s heavier but not worth the same
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth has a valuable perspective for us to consider:
“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”
I read this book many years ago, and this one quote has stuck with me ever since. It is a simple truth, but not always easy to hold. While we can know this to be true, so many of the messages we are bombarded with each and every day are intended to persuade us to believe that we can secure “the good life” if we just buy product XYZ. Even most of social media posts imply that others have already secured the good life, as we see the highlights from select moments of their lives; a quick smile for the camera between the days of dissonance experienced within the fears of financial failure, family arguments, or sense of loss as to how things will ever be better.
Once I took the long road it’s been hard to turn around
Once I took the long road it’s been hard to turn around
Sun rises, sets again – da capa, al coda, al fine
Metacognition (thinking about your thinking) can help to identify why the gap of dissonance exists for us. Silent reflection in quiet moments where we can be real and present with ourselves. As we search the present moment, we can ask ourselves if our needs are met; if we are truly in any state of lack. We can search for the discontentment and/or fear that robs us of our peace. We can tune in to discover the message that we have received and believed; the false promise of peace through purchase.
Grace is the antidote to anxiety. Grace for self, others and life. Grace to allow freedom for all to be. Grace allows gratitude for what we have, and for contentment to follow. Grace allows us to hold our existence, our essence, without the fear of losing it. Grace allows us the freedom to see the magnitude of the created value within each creature, and the trinket comparisons that mislead.
By the way…transparent disclosure: I can’t sell you peace – just a recording 😉
Give it a listen: BandCamp Apple Music Spotify
Buy the Limited Production Vinyl Record (Police Memorial Fundraiser): HERE
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