“My mind races.”, my student said.
“I’d like to make it stop
but I’ve accepted
I’ll be like this my whole life.”
This is limiting self-talk, I told him.
Change takes work
and time and awareness.
Add five minutes
to the end of your workout.
Listen to your breathing.
Listen to your heart.
Try to hear yourself sweating.
Taste the water you drink.
Feel your body cooling down.
Imagine your heart
getting stronger, your lungs.
Feel your muscles growing.
Slow your breathing
as your pulse slows.
Do that, truly do that,
and your anxiety will diminish.
Much of your anxiety stems
from your need to accomplish.
Understand you will increase your results
as you reduce your anxiousness.
Motivation is one thing,
it expands you.
Anxiety is something else,
it restrains and limits.
We have discussed
how you might elevate your game,
what you should do next.
Reducing your anxiety,
quietening the brain chatter,
might be the answer.
Try it until the next big event.
We’re only talking a half-hour weekly. Total….
Won’t do any harm.