Anxiety is not as great in situations where I have nothing to do. It's either what I've done before or something was distracting and you missed that. Sometimes my anxiety is a sign of presence, which is so different from how people typically think of presence as being very calm. We love the energy of anxiety when it's that right combination of adrenaline and endorphins and dopamine.
Stress, anxiety, nervousness — when these feelings inevitably arise, lecturer Kelly McGonigal says it’s not about making them go away, but using them to your advantage.
“What I have come to value about anxiety,” says McGonigal, “is it’s a sign that I care.” As she explains, feelings of stress alert us to things that matter to us and help us stay present in the moment — particularly useful, she says, when it comes to communication.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McGonigal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to channel stress toward more effective communication and to a deeper connection to our own purpose and meaning.
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