mean	it
	
!),	“My	anxiety	will	forever	come	and	go,”	and	“I	can	still	be	okay
and	live	a	valuable	life	with	anxiety.”
Maybe	you’ve	experienced	the	freedom	that	comes	with	true	acceptance
in	other	parts	of	your	life:
Just	when	you	accepted	you	wouldn’t	find	love,	you	found	it.
Just	when	you	accepted	your	unsatisfactory	job	situation,	it	improved.
Just	when	you	accepted	a	loss,	something	was	gained.
Just	when	you	accepted	your	flaws	(or	the	flaws	of	someone	else),	they
stopped	upsetting	you.
Just	when	you	accepted	your	diagnosis,	you	became	healthier	in	other	ways.
Acceptance	brings	less	obsessive	focus	and	energy	spent	on	whatever	is
troubling	us.	As	we	become	less	singularly	focused,	our	lens	expands	to	the
larger	picture.	We	have	the	space	to	strategize,	take	risks,	and	do	more	to
improve	our	circumstance.
STRATEGY:
	
IMAGINE	A	SCENARIO
Use	this	visualization	exercise	to	get	in	touch	with	what	you	might	gain	if	you
push	through	your	anxiety.
1.
	
Bring	something	to	mind	that	matters	to	you	but	that	you’ve	avoided
or	neglected	because	of	anxiety	and	fear.	Picture	the	details.	Paint	the
scene	in	your	mind’s	eye.
2.