to	practice	
while	you	feel	anxious
	
.”
At	first,	Mateo,	like	many	of	us,	remained	stuck	on	the	idea	that	he	can’t
live	with	anxiety:	“But	I	don’t	want	to	feel	anxious!	I	have	to	figure	out	the
anxiety	first.”	Then	he	made	the	connection:	“Well,	I	guess	I’m	going	
to
	
feel
anxious	either	way.	I	didn’t	go	to	practice	today	and	I	feel	even	worse	than
yesterday,	but	at	least	if	I	go	to	practice	I	haven’t	lost	anything	else.”
And	that’s	it.	If	you	make	your	choices	
in	spite	of	anxiety
	
,	you’re	retaking
control	of	yourself	and	your	actions—you’re	retaking	control	of	your	world.
Now	you	are	free.	Free	to	strive	to	become	a	college	football	player,	develop
close	friendships,	fall	in	love,	travel,	be	spontaneous,	take	the	final	tests	to	get
the	degree,	take	that	medical	test	that	could	save	your	life,	speak	up	in	the
meeting	so	your	boss	will	give	you	that	promotion,	start	a	new	business,	plan
a	party.
Anxiety	will	not	disappear,	but	it	will	no	longer	be	your	tyrannical	boss—
you,	your	true	nature,	will	be	the	boss.
STRATEGY:
	
WATCHING	YOUR	THOUGHTS
Use	this	mindfulness	exercise	to	better	connect	with	the	part	of	you—the