Conquering Anxiety Instead of Coping With It

Mental Health Awareness Month has made coping with anxiety a hot-topic, especially as it pertains to parenthood and entrepreneurship.  As a work from home mom who runs a media centric business, I am no stranger to the crippling affects of anxiety. I also spend a lot of time helping clients overcome their anxiety as it pertains to stepping into the limelight. So when I say this I want you to let it sink all the way in: anxiety is the fear of something that hasn’t happened yet, and may never happen. 

For me, there is nothing more nerve-wracking than planning Pretti Talk content. I can pitch clients, ask perfect strangers to invest money into client projects, and plan large-scale events without breaking a sweat. However, when it comes time to publish the content I create for my business my anxiety runs amuck. My wholehearted overall goals get the better of me and nothing is profound, petty, or provocative enough to publish! 

All that double-mindedness did was leave my business stuck in a neutral position. It was so ghetto. Which you guessed it, made my anxiety even worse!

For the last few months, my therapist and I have been exploring what happens when I just push through the anxiety. At first, there was a lot of crying. Then I started to feel empowered as things came together. So, that’s what I am here to challenge you to do. 

Pretti Beasts don’t cope we conquer. 

So, identify the part of your business that brings you anxiety: content creation, public speaking, sales, whatever it is. Then I want you to commit to doing it daily. 

If talking about your brand makes you sweat, try engaging with three social media friends you have never met before. Don’t lead with a sales pitch (they may not even be your target), definitely ask for feedback on your content (everything is a market research opportunity), but try to genuinely connect. 

If sales calls cause you anxiety instead of reworking your offer for the millionth time, market it, see who comes to it-if anyone at all. 

Worrying about tomorrow prevents us from living today. Taking action in the face of anxiety keeps you from worrying about tomorrow! Literally, at first, you’re so scared it won’t work that to get through you’ll have to force yourself to power through. The strength that takes, doesn’t leave much room to worry and the anxiety subsides, if even for that moment. 

I am also an avid believer that you should have your therapist. There is just no way to juggle everything without someone to talk things through with. These are things I worked through with my therapist. Don’t get disheartened if this approach doesn’t work for you. It’s just more proof you need a doctor of your choice to create your conquering method!