How cute is this photo? At first glance it looks like I'm riding a bike... but look a little closer and you'll notice my dangling feet are nowhere near the pedals. It reminds me of a coping tool I learned at the ADF back in 1999 - fake it till you make it.
ADF stands for Anxiety Disorder Foundation. It's an Adelaide-based support group that I frequented weekly soon after being medically diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in the late 90's.
The group was facilitated by a fellow sufferer who, by practicing certain techniques, was able to manage his condition - that was inspiring. We then watched a video of Australian comic actor, Garry McDonald, talking candidly about his severe anxiety - that was enlightening.
We continued on to learn that our feelings are a result of our thoughts, dispelling the belief that we cannot change our feelings. By altering our thoughts, we have the power to write a healthy prescription for the way we feel - that was liberating.
The key to making this all work is to operate with awareness, as opposed to being on autopilot.
Our thoughts and reactions are habits, often cultivated by our environment. I see these habits forming in young children. They mimic their parents, older siblings and peers. Awareness is deactivating our autopilot, taking the wheel and plotting a new course. We have the power to choose our reactions, we have the power to choose our feelings.
I might sound like an expert at this, but I alas I am an eternal student.
Frustratingly, I continue to lapse into my old habits. Most often when I'm stressed, the autopilot kicks in - which is actually the most critical time for me to be at the helm. Out of control negative thoughts cause a fast downward spiral. The only way to prevent oneself from colliding with disaster or thudding onto rock bottom is a sudden awakening. Choosing thoughts with awareness is the fast way to alter the course and claw oneself back out.
So... back to this photo and fake it till you make it...
We were taught a bunch of self-management tools at the ADF and instructed to continue practicing even if we felt like we were being a fake (anxiety is often a symptom of perfectionism and a perfectionist would get anxious about not doing it 100%, and ultimately feel like a fake). Fake it till you make it was just another tool that gave us permission to continue practicing our anxiety management tools, even though at times we completely sucked at it.
The thing is, fake it till you make it was meant to be a tool to facilitate us - not a facade to fool you.
Just as you saw a little girl riding a bike when you first looked at this photo, only to discover she couldn't reach the pedals - the same may be said of people's impressions of others. At first glance you see someone who is brave, courageous, adventurous, strong and resilient, but look again and see beyond the facade. Anxiety sufferers who are 'faking it till they're making it' are often seen to be all those things - and whilst at times we are, there are also moments when we barely reach the pedals.
Until next we greet, liberate yourself by choosing thoughts that have you feeling the way you want to feel... and be sure to look beyond your first impressions.
Grace xxoo
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