Wanderlee is a weekly email from Akina Marie about finding the magic in the little things. Feel free to share excerpts from this newsletter with someone you think might enjoy it. Thank you for being here!
Hey Friends!
Over the weekend, I had the worst case of anxiety. I couldn’t sleep, I was restless, and my mind went down the rabbit hole (again). Which then caused me to go down the Youtube rabbit hole watching otter cafes in Tokyo (it’s a thing).
Overall, I couldn’t shake that feeling off. Thankfully, after a meditation session, I recentered myself but knew that my long time friend, anxiety, would be showing up again.
The thing about anxiety is that it sometimes arrives without warning. If there’s anything I learned, leaning in and connecting with our anxious feelings and thoughts are stepping stones to cultivating practices that work for you. Because we all deal with our emotions differently ✨
Here are some of my favorite go to’s:
Iridaeza 🌱 – My dear friend and mastermind behind the mindful and CBD-infused lifestyle brand has a vast collection of goodies to help you relax, recharge, and realign. If you’re new to meditation, start here.
Sound and Soulful 🌕 - Her subliminals collection has everything from chakra healing to beauty. Don’t know what subliminals are? I got you covered below ;)
Coloring, painting, and doing anything creative 🎨 Really, sometimes we just need to play.
Here are some of the ways I deal with my anxiety goblins.
1. Befriend your anxiety
Giving my anxiety a name and a sassy personality was a game-changer. I never had a name for her, but I decided over the weekend to call her Yelena. Because I love her in Black Widow, and just like Marvel Yelena, Anxiety-Yelena kinda likes to show up unannounced.
The way I befriended Anxiety-Yelena was through letter writing. I always resort back to this as a way to cope with my emotions. I love this process so much, that it’s a huge component of the Dear Gorgeous podcast.
Dear Anxiety-Yelena,
I texted Cheryl today. She didn’t respond. Instead, she left me on read and then went offline. After two hours, I checked my phone and there she was. Yet, still no response. What if I was a horrible friend? What if she’s upset because I haven’t reached out? How many of my other friends hate me? Am I even a worthy friend to have around?
Ugh,
It’s me again
Dear you,
Cheryl didn’t text you, you say? Cheryl works different hours and her job requires other responsibilities. While you’re chomping on some lettuce, Cheryl is handling incoming hotel guests like the little bad ass she is. She probably doesn’t even have her phone on her. Take a deep breath. At least you reached out and got some greens in you.
Don’t go looking for other reasons as to why you are a horrible friend – better yet, don’t go down the rabbit hole at all. You won’t find Cheryl there.
Love always,
Yelena
P.S. There’s something called time difference.
Anxiety-Yelena is a little snarky, and I freakin’ love her.
2. Count down
This rule was recommended by my therapist. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I am to take three deep breaths and do the following:
See three things
Listen to two sounds
Feel one object
Utilizing our senses quiets the chattering mind and shifts our focus onto something else. It's easy to do while sitting in your car and you can switch it up using scent and taste.
3. Listen to Subliminals
Subliminals act like invisibility cloaks. They are powerful AF and can get through some of the most guarded doors in our minds. They’re audio tracks with embedded affirmations that bypass our conscious minds. The hidden messages go straight to our subconscious and begin to rewire old negative thought patterns.
I listen to this subliminal when I go to sleep. Not only is it calming, but I tend to wake up feelin’ extra fresh. ☀️
Hope you all enjoyed this week’s read!
Later days,
Akina