The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest

132 BRIANNA WIEST
feel anxious. It takes awareness, and it takes time. But it is
always possible.
WORRYING IS THE WEAKEST
DEFENSE SYSTEM
Rumination is the birthplace of creativity. They’re controlled
by the same part of the brain. 11
That’s the neurological reason there’s a stereotype about
“depressed creatives.” Any artist will tell you that the
toughest times in their lives inspired the most groundbreaking
work. What they won’t tell you, though, is that
crisis is not necessary to function.
Well, of course it’s not, you’re thinking. Crisis is the worstcase
scenario. And yet how many of us place ourselves in a
state of panic over fear of that “least likely scenario” coming
true? How many of us, in an effort to shield ourselves
from panic, actually create a crisis out of our fear each day?
We’re not just masochists. We’re wildly intelligent unconsciously
functioning beings. Our brains understand
something: If we imagine our worst fears, we can prepare
for them. If we mull them over again and again, we can
feel protected in a way. If we are ready for the storm, it
can’t hurt us.
Except it can.