“My mind may race, but I’m learning to slow down anyway.”

I’ve spent too many days thinking anxiety was my identity. It is like living in my bones, and I had to either hide it or let it consume me.

It shaped how I showed up, how I held back, and how I talked to myself. But I’ve come to learn that anxiety is not who I am

It is something I am learning to carry with care.

How It Shows Up

Anxiety doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it’s silent:

• The shaky breath before speaking up
• The canceling of plans because the unknown feels too heavy
• The overthinking at 1 AM, replaying conversations from two weeks ago

It shows up in my body, in my tone, in the way I clench my fists or avoid eye contact. It whispers, “What if?” and “You’re not enough.” And some days, I listen.

But it can take control every day.

What I’m Learning

Instead of fighting my anxiety, I’m trying to understand it.

That means:

• Checking in with my breath, even when it’s shallow
• Grounding myself through small rituals — tea, nature, journaling
• Naming what I’m feeling without shame

I remind myself: 

“This is a moment, not a definition.” I can be someone who feels anxious and still be strong, capable, and kind. One truth doesn’t cancel out the other. 

Compassion Over Control

Anxiety teaches me things. It shows me what matters to me, what feels unsafe, what I need to heal. So I no longer aim to erase it. I aim to move with it, not against it.

If you’re reading this and nodding, this is your reminder:

You are not broken!

You are not weak!

You are working through something. That is what is brave. You are allowed to be a full, complex, feeling human. and your mind may race, but you can still find your own rhythm.