What about this anxiety that doesn't go away?

In last week's post, we discussed tiredness that doesn't go away. We described being immersed in a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) world, which has contributed to worsening everyone's mental health. We explained that in order to navigate this world effectively, we need to intentionally create space to feel, process, and respond differently.

The concept of Brittle (brittle) has been described as something that appears strong but suddenly becomes fragile and breaks. There is a constant exposure of vulnerability and impermanence. We explored how to cope with this fragility both in our surroundings and within ourselves. Today, our conversation will focus on gaining a deeper understanding of this Anxious world.

Sources of anxiety

It's not difficult to understand why we feel so anxious. The very fragility and vulnerability (Brittle) described are triggered each time we realize that we are not in control of things. And, as we have seen, this is triggered in all aspects of our lives.

Moreover, we have become increasingly immersed in our cell phones and the digital world. This, in itself, is neither good nor bad, but it has consequences. Unconsciously, we have developed FOMO* - the fear of missing out - which is the habit of constantly checking our phones in search of something new.

This society, deeply immersed in the online and informational realm, carries a paradox within itself. We consume vast amounts of information, but often fail to truly think about it; instead, we merely react to it. Immersed in this excess, we struggle to engage in deep thinking and reflection. Consequently, we become overwhelmed and hurried, reacting more and more.

Reacting entails acting without thinking, relying on our primal instincts of fight or flight. Consequently, this information overload often leads us to either stagnation or confrontation and aggression. Fueled by the fear of being ill-equipped to navigate an increasingly complex reality that exposes our vulnerability, we instinctively react.

Unconscious reactions

While the online world has brought us endless possibilities, it has also invited compulsive behavior (repetition), leading us to consume more information. What this excess often conceals is our lack of self-awareness regarding what we truly want or where we want to go. The compulsion to seek information falsely suggests that the answers lie outside ourselves, when in reality, the search should come from within. As a result, we remain increasingly connected and anxious.

Moreover, this digital, hyper-connected, information-rich, low-reflective environment has become a fertile breeding ground for fake news. All information claiming to be "truth" further exacerbates our vulnerability, insecurity, and fear.

Fake news, which was already rampant in the realm of digital social networks, has now become exponentially amplified with Chat GPT. It serves as a tool for spreading falsehoods (fake news) and creating them through texts and images.

In his book "Unwinding Anxiety," Judson Brewer states that anxiety has always been present among us, but in recent years, it has gained dominance in our lives. Anxiety resides in the part of the brain that resists rational thinking, often rendering us unaware of our anxious state. We fail to recognize the habits that conceal our anxiety, and as a result, we become trapped in them.

Through his research, Judson has demonstrated that mindfulness and meditation are twice as effective as other conventional behavioral methods in addressing anxiety. For instance, focusing on willpower, making substitutions, or managing our environment to avoid temptations.

During the course I taught, "Learn to Meditate to Control Anxiety," participants were initially encouraged to observe their breath. Many quickly learned to identify their anxiety and discovered that something as fundamental as breathing and its techniques can be valuable allies in diagnosing and managing anxiety.

Recognizing that anxiety has become a structural aspect of our lives and that it hides within various habits empowers us to better cope with it and guides us towards proactive actions rather than reactive responses.

For further reflection, here are some thought-provoking questions:

Can you identify your habits related to anxiety??

The next time you engage in one of those habits, practice mindfulness. Watch yourself curiously perform the habit. Don't judge yourself. If it's the habit of using your cell phone, ask yourself: what am I doing, what am I looking for?

How important is this information? What does it stir within me?

Continue using open-ended and probing questions to observe yourself in the process and, at the same time, gain an external perspective. Explore with curiosity what you're seeking and what triggers your reliance on a particular habit.

How have you been developing your neutral, non-reactive mind?

Can you open micro pause moments to connect with your emotions?

… in the next chapter

In the upcoming text, we will discuss the next two aspects of BANI and their impact on us: non-linearity and incomprehensibility.

*Note: "FOMO" is a term coined by Dan Herman and used by Patrick McGinnis and Andrew Przybylski to describe the desire to be constantly connected with what others are doing.

** Author: Júlia Ramalho - DdF Co-founder & People Solution