When I feel stuck in an anxious story, I avoid - avoid phone calls, loved ones, and responsibilities.

The important thing is not getting rid of anxiety, it’s stepping into our story and owning it - which Dr. Brene Brown calls "Rumbling with Vulnerability.

Here are 4 journal prompts to turn your anxious story into growth and resilience:

#1 What's the story my mind is making up?

#2 What do I need to learn and understand about myself?

#3 What do I need to learn and understand about others in this story?

#4 What's my brave new ending?

#1 WHAT'S THE STORY MY MIND IS MAKING UP?

This question gives us space to watch our story from a helicopter view.

Be honest with this question because it means you’re being real with yourself. You know you’re doing it right if you'd feel scared showing someone your story.

#2 WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT MYSELF?

A story has multiple sides, meaning that you played a part too.

This question helps you clean up your side of the story by deeply understanding yourself:

• Where’s this story coming from?

• What’s underneath my response?

#3 WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT OTHERS IN THIS STORY?

Now, let's look at the other side of the story - seeing what y'all share in common and assuming the best intentions.

• What assumptions am I making about others?

• What might be underneath their response?

#4 WHAT'S MY BRAVE NEW ENDING?

Now, it's time to write your new ending.

Rather than seeing this as a defeating story, we get to shape it in a way that empowers us and realigns ourselves with our values.

• What are 1-2 key learning lessons?

• How has this process changed me?

This may seem woo-woo and requires effort and time.

However, we can either choose to be free by rumbling with our story or we let the story choose for us.

If you enjoyed this and are into health and fitness, psychology, and coaching/education:

1) Follow me @joshabregopt for threads like this 4x-5x a week

2) Check out one of my popular threads related to this thread: https://typeshare.co/joshabregopt/posts/day-14-the-simplest-way-to-overcome-the-worry-of-what-other-think-about-you