The positive sides of anxiety: your response matters
There’s not even a single person on the planet Earth who isn’t anxious.
If you had no anxiety at all, you wouldn’t look both ways before crossing the street.
However, its effects on our well-being may fluctuate from person to person.
If anxiety is present in every individual, it may not be as detrimental as it’s often portrayed.
Let me tell you something surprising: anxiety isn’t the problem; the problem arises when you believe anxiety is a problem!
This is because when you perceive anxiety as a problem, you’re signaling to your brain that it’s a threat. This, in turn, steers your brain towards negative thinking, fostering a channel for negative thoughts.
The bottom line is that anxiety isn’t the issue; it’s all about how you train your brain. The next time you feel anxious, there’s no fear, and your brain doesn’t release adrenaline.
Adrenaline is a hormone released by our brain in response to stress or danger.
That said, moderate levels of anxiety can bring about important, meaningful, and even life-saving benefits.
The Positive Aspects of Anxiety
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Anxiety keeps you motivated
According to the researchers, anxiety allows you to take certain actions and prevent undesirable outcomes.
For instance, anxiety may not let you sleep peacefully to avoid failures and successfully complete an assigned project.
A 2018 study found that individuals with anxiety might be more likely to have a fear of failing, which led them to have a motivation to succeed.
There is a link between anxiety and higher intelligence. Due to their increased creativity and tendency to analyze things around them, those with anxiety have been found to be intelligent.
By redirecting their energy into learning new things, individuals with anxiety increase their intellectual potential.
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Anxiety protects you from danger
Being anxious makes you more cautious, and that’s a good thing.
Sometimes, the things you feel inside, like anxiety, can have the hidden purpose of keeping you safe, just like a guardian angel.
A study in the United Kingdom discovered that teenagers who often feel worried and nervous are less likely to have accidents or die by accident when they grow up.
So, if you ever feel anxious, remember that it’s okay; it might just be your inner protector looking out for you.
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Anxiety makes you a good leader
A leader needs to be prepared for any outcome. Interestingly, anxious people are found to be more prepared for a crisis when it arrives — and that’s one of the great qualities of effective leaders.
Data shows that anxious people react quickly in times of danger and tend to be more comfortable with uncomfortable feelings.