Best way to get rid of anxiousness

[vervex]

Discipline must be met with the proper amount of humility and acceptance of distortion as a lack of acceptance will cause a rejection of the very catalyst that is desired to be resolved. It is highly unfounded, by me personally, that discipline alone can resolve distortions.

I would simply like to say that I agree with this statement and that I have experienced personally an excess of discipline in dealing with some catalyst in the past. Until recently, I thought the best way to deal with some catalysts, including some fears, pains and anxieties, was to positively will myself to move past them and embrace a state of peace. I genuinely believed I was healing myself, and perhaps I did in some limited capacity, but on many occasions I willed myself to deny the experiencing of some painful emotions by skipping right to the end; a feeling of peace which felt true but which, ultimately, would not be stable in the long run. It seemed to work so well that it might have taken several years or perhaps even decades until enough unresolved emotions would pile up so high I would be forced to look back and realize that I had been denying part of myself all this time. Thankfully, with some help (and much cringing on my part, ha!) I was made aware of this distortion.

When one uses will/discipline to heal distortions, they must beware as there is only a thin line between genuine healing and repression. Some emotions and states of being are so painful one may be tempted to find a quick solution to end their suffering. In an attempt to deal with an issue so willfully, they may very well resort to self-control and discipline, even through meditation, a practice which counter-productively leads to the repression of the issue, turning it into something which can be more easily compartmentalized and stashed away. If one is good enough at this, they may even believe the issue is solved and gone for good. Regrettably, this state is no less than a form of self-denial.

I have found that the best way to "get rid" of anxieties, negative emotions and other pains of the sort is simply to feel them, accept them and carry the hope/faith in my heart that they will heal. True acceptance of oneself, including our emotions and desires is a potent balm which heals; it is self-healing, genuine love for the self.

I hope the sharing of my experience will inspire others who have had the same distortions to look within themselves and accept more of their being. It is not always an easy feat but when done right, in a loving and patient manner, it enables one to grow and carry more love for themselves within them and, as a result, more love for others as well.