Today is Independence Day in the United States.

It's the day our country declared its cessation of being a colony to Great Britain in 1776.

Powerful stuff right?

Independence.

Freedom.

These words define not only our country's history, but influence the course of our own lives.

I'm 38.

I've been anxious my whole life and have worked for decades on managing it.

Until recently, I was not free. In fact, the colonization of anxiety in my mind was so bad, it was all I knew for periods of time as a teen and again in young adulthood.

It wasn't until I hit rock bottom and refused to ignore my tendency to become anxious any longer that my life started to improve.

Instead of going on autopilot, satisfied with fleeting moments of peace, I attacked my situation with focused attention, determination, and consistency to make substantial change.

Unfortunately, this path isn't normal. Most people want an easy button—I know because I did too for most of my life.

But just like our country, which had to fight a long war for its independence, it should be expected that fighting for our freedom from anxiety will be hard.

This is what a practitioner mindset is all about. Understanding up front, that there is no one time, this fixes everything, cure for our work against anxiety.

It took me years of daily practice.

Countless reps putting myself back in the fire to test my tools.

Getting knocked down and having to get right back up.

Even to this day my vigilance remains as I know anxiety is lurking around every corner, waiting for me to put my guard down.

If I could go back and write my teenage self a letter to prepare him for the journey ahead, and encourage him to start sooner, here is what I would write:

You like the idea of being free from anxiety.

But don't want to do what is required.

You enjoy thinking about becoming peaceful but when faced with the actual work to get there, put it off until tomorrow.

You feel overwhelmed with pain and washed with sorrow yet focus your energy on explaining how bad things are and why people should feel sorry for you.

You know that there's a better way to engage with the world, but put society's priorities first in your life.

You have a sense that what you're doing isn't working but get distracted and never make meaningful change.

You're pulled this way and that, emotionally dependent on external circumstances, relationally dependent on authority figures, and resource dependent on magic cures.

You've lost your way and are too comfortable in the known to change.

The mental masturbation of an ideal life is enough for you.

The thing is—I wasn't comfortable, I just didn't know what to do. I had yet to understand the importance of those 2 words—independence and freedom.

I wasn't willing to do what was required until the sustained pain was so bad I couldn't take it anymore.

But now?

I've earned my freedom from anxiety and will continue to do whatever it takes to remain independent.

If the above letter resonates with you, I'd encourage you to embrace the practitioner mindset, start today, and fully commit.

Certain things in life you can't half ass and freeing yourself from the grip of anxiety is one of them.

The best time to start was a decade ago. The next best time to start is today.

There's an anxiety free version of you waiting to be unleashed.

The work to get there isn't easy.

But the reward is sweeter than you could ever imagine.

PS - if you want help, I'm taking on 2 clients this month for my "Unshackled" program.

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