Anxiety is commonly linked with suffering. This is a mistake and one of countless false messages anxiety sends us.

Our level of suffering is most dependent on our reaction to anxiety. Reactions that are likely to decrease suffering:

• Adopting an attitude of acceptance and curiosity toward anxiety
• Reframing and challenging automatic thoughts that assume anxiety is a sign of true danger
• Choosing actions based on values rather than on what anxiety is urging
• Focusing on what is happening now, rather than what anxiety is warning could happen later
• Using spikes in anxiety as an opportunity to teach the brain a new lesson
• Embracing uncertainty and reminding anxiety that seeking certainty isn’t realistic

The goal is to decrease suffering, not anxiety.