4 Ways to Manage Stress & Anxiety

Nothing brings to light what little control we have over our lives like anxiety about the future. In a world where the only constant is change itself, it’s pretty easy to stress about uncertainties. I’m a perfectionist, a control freak who loves routine, and a worrier. The more I try to plan my life the way I think it should go, the more I realize what little control I actually have. Although a glass of wine or a bowl of ice cream may solve your problems temporarily, I’ve found these 4 things to help the most when it comes to overcoming stress and anxiety in the long run.

(See details about my little pink prayer journal by Val Marie Paper at the end of this post)

Opening your life up to God is the first step to finding your true purpose. Purpose gives you a clear vision of who you are, why you’re here, and what you really want. We’re obsessed with giving ourselves titles and crediting our worth to how much money we have, how interesting our jobs are, or how many people ‘follow’ us, but you will never find true fulfillment in anything in life outside of God. Finding fulfillment through faith eliminates anxiety and fear of the future.

Here are a few of my favorites scriptures I look to when I’m feeling anxious:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
 
1 Peter 5:7 tells us to “cast all of our anxieties upon the Lord because he cares for us”. This also means when you are feeling weak or inadequate for a task that you should not be too proud to ask Him for help and guidance. Believe with your heart that he can help you through any situation.

James 1:2-8 tells us to consider it joy when troubles come our way and to use them as a chance to grow closer to God and learn from our experiences. This has always been one of my favorite verses and I’ve found it to be so true in my life. My faith in the Lord is the strongest when I need him the most. I developed a deeper connection to Christ through the times when my anxiety has been the worst. Just how David turns his fear over to God, so should we:

When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
-Psalm 56:1-4

Stress and anxiety stem from worrying about the future – something you can’t control no matter how hard you try. The sooner you learn to live life in the present moment – free from worrying about past or fear of the future – the sooner you’ll be able to let go and truly enjoy the moment you’re in.

“do not dwell on the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment”

‘One Thousand Gifts‘ by Ann Voskamp is an incredible book that teaches us what it truly means to be completely fulfilled. Ann writes about the significant joys we experience in every day life that we so easily take for granted. She shows us that by focusing your mind on life’s small joys and by literally counting your blessings, this will open our minds and hearts to experience each blessing we receive in a deeper way more powerful way. It’s a good one you guys, find it on Amazon here!

3. Be Real With Yourself
One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to get down to the root cause of the issue. A lot of the time I claim to not know the exact issue of what’s causing my stress, but most of the time that isn’t true. Some of the best advice I’ve received on getting to the bottom of the issue is to ask yourself “what’s the worst thing that can happen?”. Things, for the most part, are usually never as bad as they seem and the answer to this question is always something I can tolerate. 

“your mind is a powerful thing, when you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change”

 

4. List Maker
Chances are your life isn’t going 100% the way you planned. We’re constantly setting expectations for ourselves that, at times, can be pretty unrealistic. Unrealistic expectations will only set you up for disappointment, but setting attainable goals for yourself can be really helpful. Be honest with yourself about what you are truly capable of achieving and take it one day at a time. I keep about 5 different lists in my phone and 3 lists in my planner (I’m officially crazy). But, I really believe writing down the things you need to get done (whether it’s groceries or business goals) can be so beneficial. There is a never ending list of things I want to do, but it’s easy to get distracted and put your goals on the back burner. I started making a long-term goal list and writing down dates of when I’d like to achieve these things. It sounds so simple, and it is, but it’s helped me keep my mind focused on a few things at a time that I really want to accomplish, which in turn keeps me from getting overwhelmed and stressed out! Keep it somewhere you can see it every day and work towards checking things off your list.

 Today I’m featuring this little pink prayer journal by Val Marie Paper I’ve had my eye on for quite a while now. Val is the creator of these awesome little things and she is truly one inspiring woman. Follow her on Instagram for daily prayer inspiration and uplifting thoughts & messages. Visit her Etsy Shop to find this prayer journal in different colors along with a men’s prayer journal (father’s day gift!), pregnancy prayer journals (new moms!), and a few other great notebooks to document your thoughts and prayers. She is offering 20% off her journals to my readers for 30 days with code OLIVIA20. Thanks for reading today you guys, love you all!