Two Things We Have To Have In Order To Overcome Anxiety

I have a six pack!  

No, not beer - abs!  

It’s not because I am young (I’m 47) - or because I won the genetic lottery (trust me, my family has had every disease known to man!)  

It’s because of a process!  

About 18 months ago I wanted to see if I could discover these so called muscles that existed in my abdomen area.  

It took two things…

Desire and discipline!  

First, there was the desire - it’s something I wanted for me (not something someone else wanted for me!)  Other people’s desires for us will only take us so far - and, if their desires are not our desires we will inevitably let them down.  

Then there was discipline - I made up my mind that exercise and proper nutrition were going to be a part of my life every single day—even when I didn’t feel like it.  

It wasn’t necessarily a program—but a process that took a while.  However, I finally accomplished my goal.  I can’t tell you the exact day my abs showed up - I just noticed them one day (which totally motivated me to dedicate to the process even more.  

What does this have to do with overcoming anxiety?  

A lot!!  

Overcoming anxiety is not the result of a magic prayer, or memorizing a pithy saying - but rather a process that takes both desire and discipline.  

First - there is desire, we have to WANT to be free of anxiety.  

I say this because, unfortunately, there are some who want to hold onto it because they find their identity in it.  No judgment here - I understand, getting our identity from anxiety does get us attention from other people—but their pity soon becomes anger and resentment when they realize all we want to do is complain, but never actually take any steps to get better.  

Other people can’t wish or pray our anxiety away…it’s something we must want for ourselves.  

Second - discipline, we must be willing to do whatever it takes.  

If we need therapy - we go!  

If we need to take medicine to help - we take it.  

If we need a support group - we dive in.  

And even when it gets hard and seems like all hell is breaking loose - we keep on going, because eventually we WILL begin to see light breakthrough - no matter how dark things may seem.  

Which is why I titled this book, “Overcoming Anxiety” and not “How To Overcome Anxiety.”  

Overcoming anxiety is a process - and while this book will not cure you I believe it will get you started on the journey.  

I wrote it so you can easily read a chapter a day for 30 days in a row - and in so doing it’s my prayer the Lord will begin the process of renewing your mind so you can escape the shackles of shame that anxiety tries to place on you - and really dive into the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10:10.  

You can get the process started by going here to pre-order the book (expected release date = February 11) - and, if you are in this fight—know that you ARE NOT alone!