I had a choice. I could either let anxiety win, or I could take back control. And in that moment, I whispered six words to myself:
“This is temporary. I am safe.”
I said it again. “This is temporary. I am safe.”
With every repetition, my breath slowed. My heart rate steadied. My mind stopped racing. Anxiety hadn’t disappeared completely, but it no longer had control over me.
And then, I stepped onto that stage.
Why These Words Work
Anxiety thrives on the idea that our fears are permanent, that we are trapped in our worst moments forever. But the truth is, every anxious moment passes. Every wave of fear rises, peaks, and eventually fades. When we remind ourselves that this is temporary, we take away anxiety’s power.
The second part—I am safe—grounds us in reality. In most cases, anxiety is not a response to an actual threat; it’s a response to a perceived one. By affirming our safety, we remind ourselves that the fear we feel is not an emergency. It’s just a feeling.
How to Use This in Your Life
The next time anxiety starts creeping in, try this:
1. Pause and Breathe. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this a few times.
2. Say the Six Words. Whisper them, say them in your mind, or write them down: This is temporary. I am safe.
3. Engage Your Senses. Look around and name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. This grounds you in the present.
4. Move Through the Moment. Anxiety will tell you to stop, to avoid, to run. Instead, take one small step forward. Then another.
You Are Stronger Than Anxiety
That night, I walked onto the stage, still feeling a little shaky. But I spoke. I delivered my message. And by the time I stepped off that stage, I had proven something to myself—fear doesn’t have to stop me. Anxiety doesn’t get to make my decisions for me.
And it doesn’t have to stop you either.
The next time fear tries to hold you back, remember: this is temporary. You are safe. You are more powerful than anxiety.
What about you?
Have you ever felt anxiety try to stop you from doing something important? What did you do to push through? Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear your story.
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