Something to Remember on Tough Days: Tips for Anxiety

Work out your thoughts, and walk out your feelings, until there are holes in your shoes and your worries are no more. Until they are left in the dust and scattered behind you, on the road you have walked. Then your heart can be emptied, and it can be filled with everything meaningful once more. Meaningful and whole with God's love. For it is the one thing that can heal us, and give us hope. 

Anxiety. Let's face it, we all have it nowadays. If you don't, count yourself lucky. Anxiety can creep up into our lives and can cause such destruction to everything we love, and everything that we hold dear. It stops us from doing things we should. It holds us back. I know it is different for everybody, but for me it holds me back from more things than I care to admit. 

I know things have been hard for you recently. There is always something that seems to be happening in our lives that makes us hurt, worry, be afraid, be angry, or bitter. Sometimes, fear climbs it's way into our hearts and makes us break. I know how hard it can be, 

like, I literally had a full on panic attack last week. 

In my car, on my way home, full mascara running down my face, and tears welling up in my throat that made me choke. 

I had stretched myself too thin. I wanted to do everything, and (not so surprisingly hehe) I could not. I didn't take time for myself, and to care for my relationship with God. And when you don't do that, it's only a matter of time before you start to crumble. (Whether that is in your car, after a long weekend, or after a big event that you were pushing yourself to get through and not taking care of yourself during it) 

We were not made to be perfect at everything. And we most certainly cannot be 100% all of the time. We need to rest periodically to care for ourselves, so that we can love others at our best. We need Jesus every moment of everyday, to have the strength to carry out our weeks, and live our lives. 

Without Him, we break. 

When we have Him, it's different. We have the hope, and the promise that we can rise up again. This week has been a tough week for you, I know. So let me say this. 

Little heart, you will make it through. 

With God, you will make it. He promised He will never leave you. (And let me remind you, He never left you in the first place) 

He was always there. 

Through every single moment.

The number of sunset pictures I have on my phone from walks... I mean..

So don't lose hope. It is the hope that we have in Jesus that carries us through. It was the hope that was able to dry my tears that day, and pick me back up. It is the hope we hold onto when the pain seems endless. It is the hope we hold onto when anxious thoughts seem to overwhelm our lives, and at times, break us down to the core. 

Walking is the life saver I use to help keep my anxiety in check. At first, I didn't even realize I was walking to relieve all this anxiousness. I would simply find myself gravitating outside, putting my headphones in, and walking a few miles a day. Sometimes (and often actually) I'd walk twice or even three times in a single day. It can clear many things from your head, it gives you a chance to connect with God, and move your body at the same time.

If this holiday season seems to be trying, and the pains of life seem to want to steal the joy, remember this. Because of Jesus, we have hope. A hope that is so powerful, it can bring us out of anything if we let it. Hope that can heal. Hope that comforts. Hope that makes us full again. 

I literally have holes in my shoes from walking so much. Walking is my way of releasing worries, and re-connecting with God. 

old faithful shoes, you have held up from many worrisome walks. 

Here is a truth about me. I have a lot of worries. So that means I have a lot of surrendering to do. Most of the time you'll find me, overthinking, on a walk, with a cup of tea in hand. 

Trying to make it through the tough weeks just like you. 

You're not alone in your struggles, and you're never alone through the pain.  

E V E R. 

So here is something to remember on the tough days. It has been a tough week for you, I know. But you'll make it through. If we surrender, and have hope -we will. It is hard, but if I can, 

by goodness so can you..

love, 

toria.