10 Motivational Quotes To Deal With Anxiety
In this exploration of motivational quotes, we delve into the profound wisdom of diverse minds on how they viewed and dealt with anxiety. From Anais Nin’s analogy of anxiety as a drowning embrace to Jodi Picoult’s rocking chair metaphor, each quote unveils unique perspectives on life’s challenges. Virginia Woolf advocates for authenticity, while Arthur Somers Roche poetically depicts anxiety’s subtle intrusion.
1. “Anxiety is love’s greatest killer. It makes others feel as you might when a drowning man holds on to you. You want to save him, but you know he will strangle you with his panic.” ― Anais Nin
Anais Nin metaphorically portrays anxiety as love’s silent threat, likening it to the struggle of saving a drowning person who may unintentionally harm their savior. The profound insight suggests that anxiety, while rooted in caring, can lead to emotional suffocation and the intricate dynamics of relationships.
2. “Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.” — Jodi Picoult, “Sing You Home”
Jodi Picoult’s comparison of anxiety to a rocking chair highlights its repetitive, unproductive nature. Much like a rocking chair provides activity without progress, anxiety can consume one’s energy without leading to meaningful solutions or advancements, emphasizing its futility.
3. “No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.” —Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf’s words encourage embracing individuality and rejecting societal pressures. The quote promotes self-acceptance, reminding us that there is no need to rush, conform, or put on a facade. It champions the idea of being true to oneself without the unnecessary burden of societal expectations.
4. “Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” — Arthur Somers Roche
Arthur Somers Roche’s analogy characterizes anxiety as a subtle but persistent stream of fear that, if allowed, carves a deep channel, overshadowing all other thoughts. This vivid imagery underscores the insidious nature of anxiety, emphasizing its potential to dominate and shape one’s mental landscape.
5. “Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” — Swedish proverb
A Swedish proverb succinctly captures the essence of worry, portraying it as a force that magnifies small concerns, casting disproportionately large shadows. This imagery vividly communicates how worry has the tendency to exaggerate the significance of trivial matters, creating unnecessary distress and apprehension.
6. “Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important.” —Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg characterizes stress as an uninformed state, perceiving every situation as an emergency. This perspective highlights the irrational nature of stress, wherein everything is perceived with undue urgency, diminishing the ability to discern true priorities.
7. “I just give myself permission to suck…I find this hugely liberating.” —John Green
John Green embraces imperfection, offering himself the freedom to produce subpar work. This attitude liberates creativity from the shackles of self-doubt, encouraging experimentation and growth without the fear of falling short of expectations.
8. “After all, what is happiness? Love, they tell me. But love doesn’t bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it’s a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it’s sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we’re doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Witch of Portobello
Paulo Coelho challenges the conventional link between love and happiness, portraying love as a constant battleground between ecstasy and agony. This perspective suggests that genuine love involves both profound joy and the persistent anxiety of questioning one’s decisions.
9. “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” ― Corrie Ten Boom
Corrie Ten Boom illustrates worrying as prematurely bearing the burdens of the future. The quote emphasizes that excessive worry not only fails to alleviate future sorrows but also depletes one’s present strength, making it a counterproductive and draining endeavor.
10. “To hear the phrase “our only hope” always makes one anxious because it means that if the only hope doesn’t work, there is nothing left.” ― Lemony Snicket, The Blank Book
Lemony Snicket introduces anxiety by highlighting the vulnerability associated with relying solely on hope. The quote implies that if the singular hope proves insufficient, it leaves a void, intensifying the anxiety linked to depending on a solitary solution for salvation.
