Woody Allen’s film persona mastered anxiety by making fun of it. His signature stuttering, nerves, and befuddlement all became sources of humor. Most of us know our own anxiety signs like nail biting, tension in the neck and jaws and shallow breathing, but when they appear we tend to take them too seriously rather than laugh. Next time your vital signs point to a rise in worries, give them the boot with humor and a few simple techniques to shift the mood.
1) Laugh. Worries hate being ridiculed. It makes them feel small, like bit players. When they feel small, they lose their power. Laughing at them and about them can be a good way to keep them at bay. A set of humor tools can help shift out of anxiousness and into a more creative place. It’s hard to hold onto a worried frame of mind when you’re wearing a bright red clown’s nose or blowing bubbles. Changing attitude by turning the excess energy of anxiety into play can actually bring about creative responses to the issues that may be at the root of anxiety.
2) Get perspective. Detach from the immediate perceived source of worry and step back into a place of witnessing. It’s like watching a film of the mind. This makes it easier to put everything into perspective. I have a partial map of the universe where our galaxy, the Milky Way, is represented by a spot about the size of a quarter. The earth inside of this is smaller than a pinpoint. When I’m troubled, I ask, “Is that worry really so important in the scheme of things?” I imagine I’m on the edge of the universe looking back and seems rather unimportant. When looking at it from next year or five years from now the perspective also shifts. Giggle at the size of God’s joke on us and move ahead constructively and in the best way you know right now. Does this seem hard to do? Pick up some inspiration from Abe Lincoln who, despite his many hardships, continued to keep a light heart and a sense of humor even when the country was split in two. He said that people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
3) Change environments. Go for a walk outdoors in nature. Slip into a cathedral. Play with a dog or tickle a baby. A shift in surroundings combined with some physical activity like a walk can reset moods and help move the mind and spirit into a better, more relaxed space.
4) Sniff soothing scents. Essential oils like lavender and frankincense have long been known to relax and elevate the spirit. Scientific studies are beginning to reveal that smells can have an impact on moods. Use a diffuser or sprinkle some drops of oil on a tissue and keep them at hand to breathe in. It’s hard to feel bad when it smells like you’re standing in a lavender field in Provence. Essential oils are good bath companions as well and just a couple of drops of pure oil will do the trick.
Copyright Debra Moffitt-Leslie 2010
Bio: Debra Moffitt-Leslie
Debra Moffitt-Leslie’s book,"108 Spiritual Practices for Challenging Times" will be published by Llewellyn Worldwide in 2011. Read more at www.debramoffitt.com Her essays and articles appear in publications around the world and focus on drawing attention to the spiritual in a mostly material-minded world. She’s on the faculty for The Sophia Institute and gives workshops in the U.S. and Europe.
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