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Dear Louise, Over the past few years, I seem to have become more self-conscious and anxious. I find that when I’m in quiet places where there are lots of other people, I become very aware of the silence, become anxious, and my stomach starts to rumble. I know this sounds crazy, but it really embarrasses me and makes me feel self-aware. I’m currently taking some classes, and find that sometimes I don’t listen to the lecturer because I’m trying so hard to concentrate on my stomach being quiet. I don’t know where this has come from, but it’s really frustrating, and I’d really like it to stop. When my mind is focused on something else, it doesn’t seem to happen. Similarly, in the summer when it’s very hot, I start to feel self-conscious that I’ll sweat (because girls don’t generally sweat much), but being anxious seems to make me sweat more, so it’s like a vicious cycle. How do I overcome this anxiety and just live my life normally again? —K.S., Dublin, Ireland Dear K.S., Learn to breathe deeply and fully. Your breath is your connection to relaxation and inner peace. Practice doing this several times a day. Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, say to yourself, “I relax and let go.” Do this four or five times and watch how your body and mind relax. You’ve been stressing yourself out, so much so that every little thought becomes a mountain of problems. Please stop that. Do the above exercise several times a day and you’ll find that you’re much more at ease with living. Then, when a stressful situation arises, you’ll already have tools to work with. Just breathing and relaxing will solve it all. It’s also a perfect way to allow yourself to go to sleep easily. Dear Louise, I recently realized that I have conflicting values that are causing me confusion. One half of me feels that I have to work really hard to get anywhere in the world, but the other half of believes that fun, love, and my relationships with family and friends are most important. I’m about to go into my fourth year at a university, but I’ve have been feeling as if it’s going to be such a grind, stress, and just work, work, work, and it’s also not really my passion. But I feel that I should get this degree, as it gives me more options. One part of me is saying that I need to go out and follow my real dream right now (to be a successful singer/songwriter) because time is of the essence; the other part is saying, “You’re only twenty, you’ve got plenty of time.” I feel like I’m dragging my heels, half of me trying to be sensible, the other pulling me to follow a dream. I’m afraid that I’m just going to end up in a dead end job to stay afloat. I feel like my values are in a muddle, and I don’t know where to commit myself, or what’s real. Maybe it’s the idea that I have to specialize to master anything that’s causing me confusion. It is pretty funny, isn’t it? I think my greatest fear is that I’ll wake up ten years later and still not have sailed to great heights, and I’ll feel as if I’ve missed the boat. Do you have any advice? —M.A., Santa Fe, New Mexico Dear M.A., My advice to you is almost the same as I gave to the person in the previous letter. Relax and breathe. Do it often. Stop being so tense. Don’t take life so seriously. Life is supposed to be fun. Don’t try to sort out your entire life in this one moment. You’ll change and grow as long as you’re alive. Having a balanced life is enjoying it all—the fun and games and the study and the work. This is what makes life so interesting. Feel love for everything—for all the people in your world, for your passions, for the everyday things in your life—and most of all, for yourself. You have no idea of all the wonderful adventures that lie before you. Affirm: I trust my inner wisdom to guide me and protect me at all times. All is well. Dear Louise, What if you want something in your life and you think about it every day? You only put positive energy in that thought, but you want it so bad. Is it possible that instead of attracting that goal, you will only will make the situation worse? —E.C., the Netherlands Dear E.C., You’re worrying too much and therefore pushing your goal away. Anticipate it with joy and then release it to the Universe to take care of. If you truly believe that the Universe and all of Life is on your side, then you can stop thinking about it (or release it), and you will be provided for. Know that the Universe is in the process of taking care of your dream, and it will arrive. Now, think about how you can have fun in the meantime. Also, remember that this is only one of many, many goals you’ll have in your lifetime. The Universe can provide them all if you will allow it. Affirm: All is well. Everything comes to me in the right time and place. Life loves me, and I love Life! Louise L. Hay is a metaphysical teacher and the best-selling author of numerous books, including You Can Heal Your Life, Empowering Women, and I Can Do It. If you would like Louise to answer your letter in this publication, please send it to: Dear Louise Column, c/o Hay House, Inc., P.O. Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100, or email your letter to: admin@hayhouse.com. Please visit Louise’s Website at: www.louisehay.com or the Hay House Website at: www.hayhouse.com. |
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