Everyone has thousands of thoughts in a day. Some make us feel happy, and others make us feel worried or upset. It’s normal to want to get rid of thoughts that make us anxious, but trying to push them away can make them come back even stronger.

The Beach Ball Metaphor

Trying to stop your thoughts is like trying to hold a big inflatable beach ball underwater. No matter how hard you try, it keeps popping back up. Instead of struggling to keep the ball underwater, let it float around you. Just let it be there without reacting to it.

The Uninvited Party Guest

Imagine you’re having a fun party with your friends. Everything is great until an annoying guest shows up, someone you didn’t invite and don’t want there. You try everything to make them leave, but they keep coming back and bothering everyone. The more you try to get rid of them, the more they stay.

Anxiety is like that annoying guest at the party. It shows up uninvited and makes you feel uncomfortable. Some people feel more anxious than others, and for them, dealing with anxiety is an everyday thing.

When anxiety shows up, you might feel like:

• The guest (or thought) is rude and intrusive.
• They make you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.
• You want to avoid important events because of them.

Things That Don’t Help:

Here are some things that don’t usually work to get rid of the uninvited guest (anxious thought):

• Locking the door: Trying to block out the anxious thought or feeling, but it finds a way in anyway.
• Supervising the guest: Trying to control the anxious thought, but it keeps doing its thing.
• Ignoring the guest: Trying to pretend anxiety isn’t there, but it distracts you from having fun.

What You Can Do Instead:

Instead of these strategies, try accepting your anxiety. This means:

• Allowing the anxious thoughts to be there without trying to get rid of them.
• Noticing the uncomfortable feelings without trying to change them.
• Focusing on what’s important to you (like having fun with friends or enjoying your evening), even if anxiety is present.

By accepting your anxiety, you can enjoy your “party” – the important events and moments in your life – without letting anxiety take over.

Watch a Video!

To understand this better, check out this video: Watch Here.