The Real Work with Maggie Sterling 19 - How I Quiet My Anxious Mind in 7 Seconds
Dec 22, 2025
Discover how a simple shift in perspective can change your relationship with anxiety. Learn about the difference between being 'anxiety-free' and 'free from anxiety.' Explore how resisting anxious thoughts can lead to suffering, and uncover the powerful concept of second fear. Hear a personal story on noticing scary thoughts and letting them pass in seconds instead of spiraling into panic. Finally, gain insights on treating anxiety as part of life without letting it dictate your actions.
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Suffering Comes From Resistance
- Most suffering from anxiety comes from resisting it and adding fearful meanings to sensations.
- Maggie Sterling says pain plus resistance equals suffering and resistance is what creates the spiral.
Free From vs. Anxiety-Free
- Being "anxiety-free" seeks symptom elimination while being "free from anxiety" removes anxiety's control over you.
- Maggie Sterling says freedom from anxiety lets symptoms exist without directing your life.
Second Fear Fuels Spirals
- Anxiety spirals when we layer a "second fear" story onto the initial physical sensations.
- Maggie Sterling highlights that the spiral comes from the story about what symptoms mean, not from the sensations themselves.
