Awareness That Heals

In the 6th and final episode of Caring for Anxiety, Robert Strock guides you through a powerful meditation designed to transform anxiety into resilience and wisdom. By focusing on self-compassion and awareness, Robert helps you develop the capacity to welcome and care for your anxiety, turning it into a source of strength. Learn to observe and respond to your emotions, identify your essential needs, and cultivate the qualities you need most. Tune in to discover practical steps for emotional growth and inner peace. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast, and explore our Introspective Guides available on our website.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

In episode 5 of the Caring for Anxiety Series, Robert Strock invites you to explore guided meditations designed to help you manage anxiety with self-compassion and awareness. Learn to observe and respond to your anxiety, developing the capacity to care for yourself in the midst of challenging emotions. Robert provides practical steps to identify and meet your emotional needs, encouraging a compassionate approach to your anxiety. Tune in to discover how you can transform anxiety into a source of strength and connection. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast, and explore our Introspective Guides available on our website.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

In part four of caring for anxiety, Robert Strock guides you on a journey to embrace and care for your anxiety. By focusing on self-awareness and self-compassion, Robert encourages you to develop a deeper connection with your emotions. This episode offers practical steps to recognize and welcome anxiety, transforming it into a source of strength and growth. Tune in to learn how to cultivate a caring relationship with your anxiety and enhance your emotional well-being. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast, and explore our Introspective Guides available on our website.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

In part three of caring for anxiety, we continue to emphasize being aware of our anxiety, recognizing its presence, and responding with compassion. This practice is a subtle but vital skill that supports us as we care for ourselves. By being mindful of our thoughts, especially in the context of anxiety, we can observe whether these thoughts are supportive or critical, allowing us to shift toward more caring and welcoming thoughts.

This approach helps us develop a deeper connection with our anxiety, viewing it as a part of ourselves that needs care. The practice of welcoming anxiety, rather than resisting or denying it, can be a powerful tool for personal growth and emotional well-being. The goal is to cultivate a mindset that supports self-care and acceptance, ultimately helping us manage our challenging emotions more effectively.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Read the episode transcription at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

In this second part of our series of six guided meditations on caring for our anxiety, we take the next step. After we are aware of our anxiety, we are shown how to guide ourselves to develop the capacity to find our intention to care for ourselves while we are anxious. We often ignore anxiety or treat it like it’s the only problem, judging or even suppressing it. This may sound simple as you think about it, but we see how transformational it becomes when we can practice it in our own lives. Recognizing and accepting anxiety will allow us to be more courageous and confident.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Read the episode transcription at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

Being gently aware of your anxiety is a powerful starting point. Inquire into your heart, seeking a place in your thoughts that nurtures self-care; it's truly invaluable. Amidst the anxiety, seek out thoughts that affirm, "Of course, I want to care for myself. Of course, I want to treat myself kindly." Bringing awareness to your anxiety while nurturing a desire to care for yourself is truly magical.

Reflect on whether you extend care to your anxiety when you're mindful of it, recognizing that self-care often slips your mind during anxious moments and can provide significant support. It marks a breakthrough moment that propels you toward thoughts,  attitudes, and actions that will uplift and sustain you.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Read the episode transcription at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

The journey of focusing on emerging challenging emotions begins with the realization that you are the observer, which helps to bring immense freedom. Instead of being consumed by anxiety, you can observe it—an experience that helps lead to a deep recognition of the need to care for yourself. This transformative process opens the door to qualities, actions, and thoughts that enhance the quality of your life. By consistent practice, you can learn to address anxiety as it arises and ask questions from your heart. This practice allows you to transition from tolerance and acceptance to finally being able to embrace your anxiety. As we continue to ascend the metaphorical elevator of raising our spirit, we can utilize these tools and the 75 needs and qualities covered in the Introspective Guides. Take advantage of these guides to help you identify the most crucial areas to ground yourself. During moments of anxiety, trust and practice your awareness to care for yourself and recognize that your tone of voice is essential to improving the quality of your life.

The final floor on our metaphorical elevator is the questions you ask yourself and the statements you tell yourself. One example is to say, "Be kind." When you care about your thoughts, qualities, and needs, you enter a heightened quality of life. The Introspective Guides are tools for self-reflection and catalysts for personal growth and transformation. They do more than simply try to move you to be more compassionate or to meditate; they subtly enhance those practices. Through these meditations, the quality of your life will expand and significantly affect the people around you. Your inner work of opening your heart and caring can also help our deeply imperiled world and country. The essential message in all these meditations is “wherever you are is sacred, and your movement toward self-acceptance and self-care will increase your capacity to love yourself and others.” If you want to take steps toward self-acceptance and self care, we all need to find a place in our hearts that allows us to move in that direction. This requires devotion and practice, and the reward is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Read the episode transcription at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

As we continue to discover ways to support ourselves during periods of anxiety, it is essential to remember the simple but elusive step of being aware of where you are, coupled with the desire to care for yourself, is a core foundation for self-compassion. The next level in the elevator metaphor is nurturing tolerance and kindness toward our anxiety. Whether or not we reach a bearable level of tolerance, maintaining the aspiration to evolve is essential for continual growth. Another level is learning to ask the right questions from your heart and what tone of voice you want to hear. Moving on further from tolerance and acceptance brings “welcoming,” which represents the pinnacle of self-acceptance. It’s the process of evolving both our hearts and wisdom.

This next elevator level helps us discover what qualities and needs are vital when confronting our anxiety head-on. To help determine your needs, the Introspective Guides on the Awareness That Heals website are helpful tools for dealing with challenging emotions—especially when you are anxious. These steps can help and support you to regain self-compassion and peace during challenging times.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel

• Read the episode transcription at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Access our Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts

When you are anxious, it's essential to be aware that you are both anxious and the observer of your anxiety. There is no need to compare yourself to anyone else. Simply start where you are—recognizing that awareness, or being the observer, can give you the capacity to mitigate your anxiety. Notice it clearly and give yourself the opportunity for self-care. Shifting your inner tone of voice during a period of anxiety can have a profound effect. The most underrated capacity in our lives is recognizing that we are the observer and the one who wants to care for ourselves. Understand your aspiration to tolerate and accept anxiety and develop the capacity to take care of yourself, guide yourself, and ultimately welcome yourself.

The next step in our metaphorical elevator is to ask questions to seek support for your anxiety. You can explore the questions, communications, and tone of voice, both inwardly and outwardly, of exploring how you will be supported, which will be most helpful in accepting and supporting yourself during periods of anxiety. Find the courage to help yourself by being assertive, setting boundaries, or being more generous. Asking yourself how to approach a situation in the most beneficial way when feeling agitated can lead to peace, relaxation, and trust. The reaction to avoid anxiety can lead to feeling stuck in withdrawal or an aggressive emotion, which can be like being caught in quicksand. But when you ask questions from your heart, with an intention to care for yourself in the moment of anxiety, you can begin to accept where you are and where you need to guide yourself. This will help bring you to your ultimate potential.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode

• Read this episode transcription

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides

• Access the Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org: https://bit.ly/ATH-Podcast

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ATH-Apple-Podcast

In the two prior episodes, we've explored practical tools to help address anxiety. The initial steps helped you become aware of your anxiety and care for it, while the subsequent step has you move into developing tolerance, kindness, and a welcoming attitude toward anxiety itself. While this may seem counterintuitive, the aim is to view anxiety as having the potential to awaken self-compassion. If you can apply this to your life, you will begin to free yourself from being dominated by anxiety and move up one more floor on the elevator metaphor. 

This shift can foster a natural sense of openness and even positivity. As you recognize the anxiety, though real, it is ultimately a natural human feeling. This mindset offers you the best opportunity to achieve your desired quality of life. It's crucial to listen to your capacity to care for yourself while you are feeling this normal emotion. Imagine supporting kindness towards your anxiety and learning how to respond to what's around you in the ways that most serve you and your significant others—increasing tolerance and acceptance wherever you are now, even if your capacity to care for yourself happens more slowly than you would like. If you are not ready to welcome the anxiety, at least let it be stored as a seed or aspiration, which itself is a tremendous evolutionary step toward self-compassion. No matter where you are, embrace it and let it guide you toward ever-increasing acceptance and caring.

Further explore the resources available to you at Awareness That Heals:

• Watch the video of this episode: on our YouTube channel.

• Read this episode transcription: https://bit.ly/ATH-Episode-116

• Explore our Blog at AwarenessThatHeals.org: https://bit.ly/ATH-Blog

• Download the (free) Introspective Guides: 

• Access the Podcast at AwarenessThatHeals.org: https://bit.ly/ATH-Podcast

• Visit "Awareness That Heals" on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ATH-Apple-Podcast