Driving in the fog.

Driving in the fog is tedious. It is a bit unsafe and it requires a lot of focus. Even though you are driving really slow.

The tail light of a car ahead of you is the only thing you can hold onto.

Driving in the fog is not about getting from A to B in the fastest time possible. It's about navigating the fog and reaching wherever we can until the fog dissipates. After that, driving is a different experience altogether.

Anxiety creates a foggy mind. It makes even the simple things we do more challenging.

We can keep driving in the anxiety fog, or we can try some tools that can help make the fog dissipate.

Here are a few things that help that Martha Beck teaches in her book, Beyond Anxiety, the explanation here is mine:

1. Exhale slowly. Like you are blowing candles on your birthday. Take your time. With every exhale.
2. Soften the focus of your eyes. Try to see the space between your screen and your eyes instead of the screen. Or soften them in a way that everything seems blurry and fuzzy.
3. Move. Let your body move. Whichever muscle feels the urge to move in whichever way. Don't stop. Don't resist. Let the body move.
4. Accept. Accept the fog. Accept the anxiety. Accept the situation that is causing anxiety. Accept the part of you that doesn't want to accept anything. In this moment, things are the way they are. All we are doing is accepting that in this moment.
5. Soft voice. Sing, hmm, murmur. Talk. Say your situation out. Again, don't resist. Become a late night DJ and start talking to yourself in a slow, low voice.
6. Kindness. Offer yourself kind wishes in your low, slow voice. May you be well. May you be happy. May you be protected from all harm.

Doing all six work like magic but many times, even one or two are enough to start clearing our fog.