Friday

Happy Friday! We’re wrapping up this week of self-care with:

• Why you shouldn’t be the first one to tell yourself “no”

• The differences between anxiety and an anxiety disorder

• The best new fiction straight to your doorstep

• How one shift in perspective can help you make peace with anxiety

Don’t Be the First One To Tell Yourself “No”

Have you ever thought about applying for a job, only to decide it wasn’t worth it because you probably wouldn’t get it anyway? Or maybe you were going to make a request, then thought twice and decided not to do so because you decided the answer would definitely be “no.”

Maybe that job would have been the perfect fit, and maybe that request would have been a resounding “yes.”

We may often be the first ones to tell ourselves “no.” We may do this because we are driven by our fear of rejection or a desire to protect ourselves. However, when we do this, we never know the opportunities we may miss out on.

You know the saying, “When one door closes, another opens”? Well, in these scenarios, we aren’t even trying to turn the handle — we’re instead locking it before we even know if it would have opened!

While there are definitely times when the door closes, that doesn’t mean everyone is going to.

It can be a great practice of self-care to explore our options and put ourselves out there. While there are times when the answer may be “no,” there are also many others when it will be a “yes.”

What We’re Watching: The Differences Between Anxiety and an Anxiety Disorder

Everyone experiences anxiety at times. However, for some people, that anxiety is a lot more persistent and may even be present in the form of an anxiety disorder.

But how do you know when anxiety is more than a feeling and something that may require a little extra care and management?

We’ve learned some eye-opening insights in a video from Dr. Jen Gunter on the TED channel.

Anxiety is a response to uncertain, longer-lasting threats and can help keep us safe.

Some key signs of an anxiety disorder include persistent feelings that cause trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and trouble getting through the day.

Knowing the differences between the two can help us more effectively manage these feelings and get some extra help to navigate them if needed.

Check out What’s normal anxiety — and what’s an anxiety disorder? here.

Get the Best New Fiction Delivered to Your Doorstep for Just $5

Each month, the Book of the Month editorial team curates a shortlist of the best new fiction they’ve come across. They have a knack for connecting readers with new and emerging authors they might otherwise miss, and every member enjoys perks like free shipping and a generous loyalty program. Choose your first book for just $5 with code CARDIGAN.

Start reading for $5.

Thank you to Book of the Month for sponsoring Note To Self.

How to Make Peace With Anxiety

When we experience anxiety, it can be easy to feel frustrated, angry, embarrassed, or any range of emotions in response.

Whether you experience that emotion in response to a specific situation or you are living with an anxiety disorder, it’s okay to feel any number of ways about it.

However, taking a shift in how we respond to our anxiety and learning to step back and make peace with it can be transformative.

Anxiety is our bodies’ way of protecting us against future threats. Whether these threats feel legitimate or not, that’s the fact, plain and simple.

When we experience swells of anxiety, it can be helpful — and even a little calming — to recognize that feeling as what it is: our bodies’ way of protecting us. This can help us not only feel a little more grounded in the moment but also make peace with those feelings (even when they feel irrational).

This doesn’t mean we have to love our anxiety or feel grateful for it — but it can make us move with those feelings a little more easily.

A Note From Us

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Approximately 3 in 10 people will experience an anxiety disorder sometime in their life. Anxiety is common and nothing to be ashamed of.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Remember that while our feelings can be overwhelming at times, they do not have to define us.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!