4 Universal Truths to Ease Anxiety

Certain things have proven themselves to be true time and time again. Here are the affirmations that will give you peace of mind and more control over your emotions.

When I look back on my childhood, I realize that I'm so lucky to have the friends that I did. I had(and still have) a very diverse friend group who were always open to sharing their experiences with each other about mental health. Through my friends, I came to have a healthy understanding of depression, anxiety, body dysphoria, and other mental illnesses. So way before I even had to use them, I had an internal toolkit of coping strategies as well as a good knowledge of external resources in my school and online for mental health.

When I was a junior in high school I had my own mental health struggles and it forced me to look inward and made me into the person I am today(I'm always thinking, pondering, asking questions, and daydreaming). Ever since I have been super in tune with my emotions and I know that I have the range and mental strength to overcome obstacles and endure bad times. This is super important because while we can't control the external situations that life throws at us, we can work on our internal ability to handle the good and the bad. So here are the affirmations that have proven themselves to be true to me, and that give me clarity.

1. Time Heals Everything

Now that I'm a college student, for the first time in my life, I feel like I can look back at past chapters of life from the perspective of being on the other side. When I look back on times that I felt so low and couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, I truly understand the importance of hope and faith. It's because of those traits that I'm here today.

Do you remember the things that worried you five years ago? I bet they seem so small now! The same is true for all things that you worry about. You'll work through them, figure them out, and one day they'll seem trivial. Just trust the process.

2. We're All the Same(People are Inherently Good)

I know that not everyone agrees with this affirmation, but I truly believe that people are good at heart. We all seem to agree on the fact that there is a duality to humankind (we can be good at times and bad other times). But I find that most people believe this is true because there are very good people in the world and then very bad people as well. But I believe we're all the same. No one wants to see the world burn just for the sake of it. There is a duality to humankind because that duality is in each of us. We are all capable of doing very good things as well as doing really bad things too.

We all want to be loved, to be successful, to be virtuous etc. Our differences simply lie in what we each think those things look like. And this variation is due to luck or circumstances outside of our control.

When we start "othering" people I find it breeds hatred and a me vs. him/her/them mentality which is damaging, problematic, and just plain foolish. This affirmation has helped me realize that how I treat others is a reflection of how I treat myself. When you criticize someone, you're really just projecting your own insecurities onto them. When you do good by someone you're actually doing it by yourself and vice versa.

The seed for this particular affirmation was originally planted in my head when I read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It's one of my favorite books! It's a refreshing, wise, and quick read that I think everyone should dive into at least once(I go back to it every once in awhile when I feel overwhelmed).

But the ultimate embodiment of this affirmation is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Similar to the refreshing nature of The Four Agreements, this book is simple yet powerful. If you ever feel scared to take a leap on anything, this book will tell you "leap and the net will appear."

3. The Only Failure is Not Trying

This affirmation is so important! I used to fear failure to the point where I gave up on doing things that excited me. I used to worry about what other people would think if I failed at something or made stupid mistakes.

I'm here to tell you that that's no way to live. Don't let your dreams just be dreams! You must redefine what it means to fail. If you don't achieve something despite doing your best, at least you can look back on it and say you tried. That's way better than wondering what if. So even if you make mistakes on your journey to accomplishing a goal, don't sweat it. Learn from them and try again. As long as you try, you're not a failure. And along the way, you'll do great things!

4. You can Learn Anything

We all know we can learn technical skills through school, books, and other online resources but I feel like when it comes to soft skills we seem to think they are innate and unchangeable. That's definitely not true! You can learn how to be brave, to be more social, to be more disciplined, the list is endless!

I encourage you to check out the self-help section of your bookstore and browse online resources. A resource I enjoy is Think Grow Prosper.