Happiful September 2020

We’re rarely afraid of what we
can see directly in front of us. It’s
the unknown – the ‘what if?’ – that
frightens us. If anxiety showed its
face and screamed like a banshee,
we’d probably tell it where to go.
We’re not weak and feeble – we
just don’t like things creeping
up behind us when we’re not
expecting it. If anxiety ever tells
you you’re weak, think about all the
brilliant things you’ve achieved,
the times you’ve stood up for
yourself, or done something others
might consider brave. Make a list –
you’ll probably run out of paper.
4. ANXIETY IS SOMETHING WE
LIVE WITH; IT DOESN’T DEFINE US
Some of the most assertive, kick-ass
people I know are mental health
campaigners with lived experience.
Take author and activist Natasha
Devon’s unwavering approach to
tackling injustices in mental health.
Natasha lives with anxiety which
can sometimes be crippling. But
she’s also stood her ground with the
likes of Piers Morgan, spoken out
in parliament, dealt with trolls, and
used humour to tell them where to
go. Natasha, and so many others
like her, like us, are amazing.
So we can probably forget about
the ‘worried well’ and the shame
that comes with it. In 2020,
we’re all about the ‘awesomely
anxious’. The awesome part is
us, while the anxious bit is that
pesky thing that we sometimes
have to live with and manage.
Whether it’s a meerkat, a
spider, or a cute little Mogwai
that occasionally turns into a
terrifying Gremlin, you deal with
it as best you can. And that’s
certainly no mean feat.
Here’s to the awesomely
anxious!
September 2020 • happiful.com • 53