Anxiety Never Gives You Strength…
Anxiety never strengthens you for tomorrow; it only weakens you for today.
We may not be able to prevent anxious thoughts from entering our minds, but we can practice the right response. Philippians 4:6, 7 instructs us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
With a cancer diagnosis comes a plethora of anxious thoughts on any given day…will I need more chemo? Will I be able to get through chemo today? How sick will chemo make me? Will Ioose my hair? Will I be able to work? Will my friends look at me differently? Will everyone feel pity for me?
What I have found is that I have to immediately stop the anxious thoughts almost as soon as they begin or they are almost impossible to stop bombarding my mind! I’ve read that mediation is best to stop these thoughts, but unfortunately I’m ADD…squirrel..what was I saying? Just kidding, but mediation definitely did not work for me. It only gave me a wonderfully quite period to worry about all the many things I was not getting done while sitting and “mediating.” By the time I finished the list of “to do” items was almost enough to write a book about! But what I did find worked for me was music! Wonderful, beautiful lyrical music! Spiritual music, country western, pop, easy listening, it all is wonderful to my ears and definitely puts me into a happy, calm place. I even asked my family and friends to send me a list of their favorite uplifting songs. The response was amazing and I discovered songs I never knew existed and some have become my all-time favorites! Since my diagnosis I have continued to add to my playlist and listen to the songs often! After I’ve calmed my thoughts, I read through some of my favorite inspirational quotes and bible versus.
I think God is okay with me mixing religious/spiritual versus and music with layman. After all He gave people their creative gifts and I’m sure it brings a smile on His face to know those gifts are helping others. So find what works for you to help you rid your mind of anxiety and anxious thoughts. Being able to manage this side effect of cancer will help with your healing, sleep, relationships and help you to be an all-over better person.
