We live in a world with over 100 billion galaxies, each with over 100 billion stars. Life is billions of years old and billions of humans have lived before us.

We live in a world with over 100 billion galaxies, each with over 100 billion stars. Life is billions of years old and billions of humans have lived before us. We live in an extremely well-off time, relatively speaking. Anxiety is a powerful emotion developed primarily for much less secure circumstances (eg, past few million years). It may be helpful to know that anxiety is natural, common and beneficial— but also that it is a self-inflicted trick of the ego. There are many systematic self development techniques for achieving positive emotions. I find it helpful to accept where I am (“I am good. I am worthy”) and to accept my desire for more (“I know what I want and I know I am worthy of it”). I try to experience pleasure in the anticipation of getting what I want (rather than feeling anxiety in not having what I want). It is hard to trust— but, learning to trust — that is itself the work!