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Anxiety is killing us. The problem is, we are CHOOSING it. And Dr. John Delony‘s new book, “Building a Non-Anxious Life” helps us choose not to be anxious.
Dr. Delony challenges the popular notion of anxiety as an enemy to be defeated. Instead, he suggests viewing it as an indicator something is off, alerting us to areas of our lives that lack safety or connection.
“Anxiety, chronic stress, burnout…all that is is a smoke alarm in your kitchen,” Dr. Delony says. “It’s just your body trying to get your attention that there’s some things in your life where you’re not safe, you’re not connected…your health is off.”
So instead of trying to take a sledgehammer to the alarm to make it quit beeping, put out the fire that’s causing the alarm to go off.
Dr. Delony emphasises there’s no quick fix for dealing with anxiety. Instead, he compares these challenges to everyday habits like working out or brushing your teeth. You’ve got to put in the effort regularly. Understanding that mental well-being is an ongoing journey helps us approach our problems with patience and toughness.
In “Building a Non-Anxious Life” he maps out six “daily choices” to help us construct a life free from the grip of anxiety: Reality, Connection, Freedom, Mindfulness, Health & Healing, and Belief.
He acknowledges calling them “choices” can cause some strife in people who hear him speak.
“I’d be the first in line to go, ‘Oh, really? I’m choosing this? Seriously? Do you think I’m choosing poverty? Do you think I’m choosing for my husband to cheat on me?’” Delony says.
“And so the challenge is if you follow that line of thinking all the way down, you end up where we are culturally, which is this: Because these things have happened to you, you are broken. You are less than, and somebody has to come rescue you because you can’t do it.
“And what I’m pushing back on is that. And the book is the opposite. I want to look at every person who can’t breathe and say, ‘I believe in you even when you can’t.’ So it’s a book about hope and empowerment.”
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KEYWORDS:overcoming depression, anxiety, shame, ongoing process, working out, brushing teeth, book, negative events, lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits, skipping workouts, strong relationship, co-managers, household, gradual process, cheating on spouse, committing theft, sensational headlines, external success, validation, acceptance, money, relationship improvement, connected to children, freedom, wiping the calendar clean, life choices, jobs, identity, personal demons, addiction to stress hormones, feeling low, chronic stress, regulated life, exercise, movement, mental health, studies, sitting, natural for humans, exercise goals, marriage, tracking sleep scores, heart rate, counseling, taking care of the body, introversion, overcoming challenges, intentionality, science vs faith, cultural mindset, grace, technology influence.
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