The Akashic Records once told me that anxiety is the belief in something false.

In this context, anxiety is often viewed as a misalignment between the higher self (your true, calm essence) and the beliefs or energies you’ve absorbed over time.

Several things come to my mind when I ponder the word misalignment.

One is something a Christian friend once told me.

They said, “When you worry about something, it is like prayers to God for it to happen.”

This is a new twist on the commonly stated truth, “What you focus on is what you get.”

The second memory happened back when I was in my 20s, when I was newly divorced with twin 15-month-old boys.

I had no money, but I was trying to get a two-year college degree so I could support myself and my children.

Around that time, a well-meaning friend told me, “They say a woman in your economic position with children will never make anything of herself.”

She continued by explaining that both my kids would, at the very least, become criminals, if not murderers.

Needless to say, I was shocked by this.

However, I’m very grateful it happened because in my own innocence and determination, my attitude was, “I don’t believe that, and I will prove ‘them’ wrong.”

Fast forward through many struggles and triumphs, and I have made something of myself, and I am very proud of both of my children.

One of my sons is now a retired Air Force Lt. Col., who is currently working for the government in aerospace engineering, and my other son is a city planner for an upstate town in South Carolina.

By the way, that well-meaning friend told me a few years ago that she regretted telling me that and was happy I proved her wrong.

I recently told this story to a young man in his 20s, as he was telling me, “They say that kids my age will never be able to buy a home.”

Who are these people who say all these things?

More importantly, why do we choose to believe them?

And how can all of this contribute to feelings of anxiety?

To answer these questions, let’s dive deeper into this subject and dissect the term anxiety, with the intention of disassembling it and letting go of anxiety, once and for all.

 

What Causes Anxiety?

If you’ve been dealing with this sort of thing for any length of time, then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind letting go of anxiety.

And at this point, you’re probably wondering what causes it.

All things considered, anxiety tends to stem from a combination of biological, psychological, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors.

With that in mind, below I’ve laid out some of the most common causes of anxiety, so you can have a deeper understanding of how this works.

 

Biological Causes

Some of the most common biological causes of anxiety include:

• Genetics: You may have a genetic predisposition, which means anxiety runs in your family.
• Brain Chemistry: You may have an imbalance of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine, which can also contribute to anxiety disorders.
• Medical Conditions: Certain health issues, including thyroid problems, heart conditions, or chronic pain, may cause or worsen your anxiety.

 

Psychological Causes

Some of the most common psychological causes of anxiety include:

• Childhood Experiences: Things like trauma, neglect, and overprotective parenting can cause you to deal with anxiety later in life.
• Cognitive Patterns: Negative thinking, perfectionism, and a tendency to expect the worst can also make you more susceptible to anxiety.
• Learned Behavior: If you grew up in an environment where others frequently display anxious behaviors, then you may end up adopting similar patterns.

 

Environmental Causes

Some of the most common environmental causes of anxiety include:

• Stressful Life Events: Stressful events in your life, like losing a job, financial struggles, the death of a loved one, or dealing with a divorce, for example, can all cause anxiety.
• Social Pressures: Fear of judgment or failure in academic, professional, or personal settings can contribute to your anxiety.
• Uncertainty: Situations with unpredictable outcomes, including global events like pandemics and terrorist attacks, can also trigger anxiety.

 

Lifestyle Causes

Several lifestyle factors can also cause anxiety, including:

• Poor Sleep: Lack of sleep affects brain function and emotional regulation, which can end up causing anxiety.
• Diet: Things like excessive caffeine, sugar, or alcohol can also heighten anxiety.
• Lack of Exercise: Physical activity helps regulate stress hormones like cortisol, which can cause anxiety, and at the same time, a lack of activity can exacerbate your anxiety.

 

Additional Causes

In addition to everything I’ve already mentioned, many other factors can cause and/or contribute to your anxiety, including:

• Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress: Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event can result in anxiety or PTSD, which can cause anxiety.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations, like those during pregnancy, menopause, or thyroid dysfunction, can also influence your anxiety levels.
• Substance Use and Withdrawal: Use of stimulants like caffeine or recreational drugs can cause anxiety, and withdrawal from certain medications, alcohol, or drugs can also lead to heightened anxiety.
• Fear of the Unknown: Concerns about your life’s purpose, death, or uncertainty about the future can all contribute to anxiety. This is also known as existential anxiety, and it’s more common than you might think!
• Social and Cultural Factors: Societal expectations, cultural influences, and “they say” narratives can create pressure to conform or succeed, which can, in turn, cause anxiety.

Typically, anxiety isn’t caused by a single factor, and it happens much more commonly as a result of several of these issues all happening at once.

Fortunately for us humans, anxiety is one of the many energies that is being pulled out of the planet right now!

But is letting go of anxiety something you’re actually ready for?

 

Advice on Letting Go of Anxiety

Anxiety often arises from beliefs that are not rooted in truth, but instead, are projections of fear.

What’s more, it can be tied to inherited patterns and societal narratives, like the “they say” statements I referenced above, which can subtly shape your thinking.

And these limiting beliefs often go unquestioned because they stem from authority figures, culture, or personal experiences.

In any case, there’s a lot of truth to the idea that what you focus on, you’ll get.

For instance, if you constantly focus on positive outcomes, you will unconsciously direct your mind, energy, and actions toward those outcomes.

But the opposite is true, too; if you constantly worry about a negative outcome, you may unconsciously direct your mind, actions, and energy toward that outcome.

This will provide all the evidence you need to validate your anxiety, but luckily, a shift in mindset can help you break this cycle.

My personal story of being a single mom and having a friend tell me that doom and gloom story illustrates how rejecting external negativity and staying determined can lead to success.

It reinforces that no one has to accept societal labels, predictions, or so-called norms, even when they come from seemingly authoritative sources.

And the truth is, these “they say” stories are often based on some vague source of authority that can be dismantled by asking for evidence or questioning its validity.

So, instead of going along with these stories, why not start questioning them, and begin to let go of your anxiety?

With that in mind, let’s look at some strategies I’ve used over the years for letting go of anxiety.

• Awareness: One good thing to do is to take some time to identify the limiting beliefs and anxieties you hold and ask yourself if they’re truly yours, or are they inherited or societal? And if you find out that they’re not yours, it can make it much easier to let them go.
• Challenging the Source: You should also ask yourself if the limiting beliefs, anxieties, or fears you’re dealing with are based on evidence or merely assumptions. Because if you confirm that they’re not based on any evidence, then they’ll be much easier to reject.
• Reframing the Narrative: Instead of focusing on potential limitations, try to focus on possibilities and your ability to overcome challenges. At this point, you can decide whether you want to remain in a conundrum or make a change, which could end your anxiety.
• Taking Incremental Action: Oftentimes, things can feel very overwhelming, and that’s when anxiety tends to set in. But luckily, even taking small actions in the direction of your goals can reinforce a sense of control and help to reduce your anxiety.
• Gratitude and Mindfulness: Practicing gratitude for your current progress and staying focused on the present moment can help you to move away from the fear-based thinking that tends to create limiting beliefs and cause anxiety.

 

Exercises for Letting Go of Anxiety

Now that you have a better understanding of the causes of anxiety, and what it takes to let go of it, you’re probably looking for some advice on how to do that.

With that in mind, below you’ll find several exercises that can help with letting go of anxiety.

 

Identify Limiting Beliefs

Although there are many things you can do to let go of anxiety, in my experience, for most people, this is the key to unraveling it all.

Because often, it’s your limiting beliefs that inform your anxiety.

So, for this exercise, you can start by writing down a limiting belief or fear that causes anxiety.

For example, a limiting belief might be something like, “I’ll never succeed because of [reason].”

Now, whatever that belief happens to be, ask yourself:

• “Is this absolutely true?”
• “And if it happens, what would I experience?”

Then, continue asking this type of question until the root of the limiting belief is revealed, which typically has nothing to do with the belief you started with.

 

Gratitude Journaling

Gratitude journaling offers a great way to shift your focus from what’s wrong to what’s right, and when you apply this in your life, it can help to reduce anxiety.

For this exercise, each morning or evening, you should take some time to write down three things you’re grateful for, no matter how small they might be. Some examples may include:

• I’m grateful for my health.
• I’m grateful for a supportive friend.
• I’m grateful for this opportunity to grow.

 

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation can help you to stay present and detach from negative thoughts and worries, which can also help to quell your anxiety.

For this exercise, you should sit in a comfortable, quiet space, and focus on your breathing.

Then, inhale deeply for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale for four.

If anxious thoughts arise, don’t try to stop them. Just simply observe them without judgment and bring your focus back to your breathing.

And if you feel it’s needed, you can repeat this exercise as many times as you like.

 

Take Empowering Action

Small, purposeful actions can help you to create momentum and reduce the sense of helplessness that can contribute to your anxiety.

Having said that, for this exercise, you should choose to take one small action each day that will help move you toward a goal or overcome a fear.

For example, if you’re worried about finances, you can start taking empowering action by creating a simple budget, and then reflect on that action to further plan ahead and build confidence.

 

Release the Past

Anxiety can stem from unresolved past experiences, so anything you can do to get over this stuff and release what’s happened in the past will help you let go of your anxiety.

For this exercise, you should write a letter to your past self or someone who contributed to one of your limiting beliefs.

Express your feelings honestly, and then end the letter by forgiving yourself and them, if need be.

Then, once this is done, you should safely destroy the letter as a symbolic act of letting go.

 

Amplifying Your Results

These exercises are meant to assist you in becoming aware of the anxieties and limiting beliefs you face and will help you prepare to let them go.

But if you’re struggling to do all of this yourself, or you just want to amplify your results, you might need some professional help.

With that in mind, if you’re looking to let go of limiting beliefs, you should download my free e-book, Freedom from Failure: 7 Steps to Expose What Holds You Back from Creating Your Success, which offers a seven-step process for moving beyond beliefs that may be holding you back.

I’m also experienced in subconscious reprogramming and energy work, and my Waters of Illumination modality can provide a quick and permanent removal of the limiting beliefs that are upholding your anxiety.

I do this by uncovering the root causes of your limiting beliefs, releasing them, and dissolving all the layers attached to them, which allows you to be free from illusions and step into a life filled with joy, ease, and grace.

So, if you feel like you need some help letting go of anxiety, then why not book an appointment and work with me?

Love to all,
Rose Marie Swanson