Moving from Anxiety to Action in an Overwhelming World

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of problems that humanity is staring down the barrell of. Climate change, political unrest, social inequality, and the pandemic are just a few examples of the issues that can make us feel anxious and helpless. But as overwhelming as these issues may seem, we have the power to take purposeful action to make a difference. Let me share three simple steps that can help you move from anxiety to purposeful action.

Step 1: Face the Fear

The first step to taking action is to face our fears. Fear can paralyze us and keep us from taking action. Otherwise known as analysis paralysis, it can make us feel like we’re not good enough, that we don’t have the skills or resources to make a difference. But the truth is that everyone experiences fear, and the most successful people are the ones who learn to face and overcome it.

Start by taking small steps towards your goal, something manageable and build up from there. Another strategy is to focus on the positive outcomes of taking action. Vision in your mind what will happen if you succeed? What kind of impact can you have on the world? By focusing on the positive, you can start to shift your mindset from one of fear to one of purposeful action.

Step 2: Awareness & Release

The second step is to become aware of our emotions and learn to let them go. Emotions can be powerful drivers of our behaviour, but they can also be stumbling blocks that keep us from taking action. We often try to numb negative emotions, but the truth is that we can’t selectively numb them. If we try to push down negative emotions, they’ll inevitably come back up and hold us back.

One way to become aware of our emotions is to practice mindfulness. This can involve techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or simply taking a few moments to check in with ourselves. When we become more aware of our emotions, we can start to let them go. We can explore the meaning behind our emotions and release them in a healthy way. This process can be challenging, but it’s essential to taking purposeful action.

Step 3: Shift the Narrative

The third simple step is to shift our narrative from one of helplessness to one of empowered action. We often feel like we can’t make a difference in the world, but the truth is that we have more power than we realize. We may not be able to control outside circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them. We can choose to rewrite our narrative and see the world in a different way. After all the world and all the rules in it or made up by someone no smarter than you.

Shifting our narrative is to find peace with the idea that life is likely to be 50% unpleasant experiences / 50% pleasant experiences. By accepting this, we can see the polarity in everything and recognize that where there is good there’s bad and vice versa. This can help us find a sense of purpose and meaning in our actions.

Finally, we can step up and take empowered actions that feel purposeful and meaningful. By being confident in our own resilience and humanity’s resilience, we can become part of the solution. We can take part in the contagious change that’s happening in the world, starting with ourselves. This could mean volunteering, donating to a cause, or simply spreading positivity and kindness in our daily interactions. Whatever actions we choose, they can make a difference.

I’m under no disillusions that taking action can be challenging and require courage, especially when we’re facing complex and overwhelming problems. But by facing our fears, becoming aware of our emotions, shifting our narrative, and stepping up to take purposeful action, we can make a difference in the world. It all starts with taking that first step.