Book one · source page 5
Anxiety
An emotion that arises from trying to protect and prepare for threats.
Why do I feel this way?
Anxiety is a survival response.
It tries to protect you by imagining possible problems before they happen.
However, when it fires too often or too loudly, it traps you in fear of things that haven't happened yet.
How to change or channel it
- Name exactly what you are afraid might happen.
- Ask: "Is this happening now or am I predicting it?"
- Focus on one small thing you can control today.
- Ground yourself using your senses: Name 5 things you see, 4 you touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste.
- Shrink your future window, think about the next 10 minutes only.
A little more light
Living with this feeling
Original Lantern Project guidance inspired by this topic. This section is not copied from the source book.
Morgan notices anxiety before making an important decision. Instead of judging the feeling or forcing it away, Morgan names what is present and chooses one supportive practice: name exactly what you are afraid might happen.. The feeling may still be there, but it is no longer the only voice directing the moment. Morgan has created enough space to choose what comes next with greater care.
“I can acknowledge anxiety without letting it define every part of me. I can listen to what it may be showing me and choose one caring next step.”
What might anxiety be asking me to notice, protect, accept, express, or change today?
Where it can lead