Bhrett McCabe
Anxiety Isn’t a Life Sentence
There’s a shift in the air this time of year. For students, it’s the pressure of a new semester. For professionals, it’s the urgency of the second half of the year. And for a lot of us, it brings something familiar: that quiet hum of anxiety rising in the background.
It’s easy to believe that feeling is permanent. That it’s just part of who you are. But here’s the truth: anxiety is not a life sentence. It’s not in charge. You are.
The Lie That Anxiety Tells You
Anxiety wants you to believe it’s part of who you are. That you are anxious—not just feeling anxiety, but being defined by it. That lie keeps you in a cycle of avoiding triggers and shrinking your world to feel safe.
But you’re not powerless. You don’t have to wait for anxiety to disappear before you move forward. The goal isn’t to eliminate the feeling. It’s to reclaim the authority to act even when it shows up.
The Incoming Tsunami
When that wave of anxiety builds, it feels like an internal tsunami. Your mind switches from purpose to protection, and every instinct screams at you to escape. But you don’t have to run. Taking back control begins with a conscious decision to stop fighting the wave and start learning how to ride it.
Your Pathway to Winning
Anxiety is hard. The goal isn’t to erase it but to respond with control. Over the years—personally and professionally—I’ve come back to a simple framework I call the five “A’s.”
Acceptance: Stop fighting what’s already happening. Resistance only makes it worse. Acceptance isn’t giving in—it’s owning your experience without judgment and choosing to respond.
Anchoring: Find something to steady you—breath, the chair against your back, or a physical sensation. That anchor keeps your mind from spinning out.
Action: Anxiety tells you to freeze or overthink. The antidote is one small, intentional move that proves you’re still in control.
Adaptation: If the first step isn’t enough, pivot. Adjust your approach in real time instead of retreating.
Analysis: After the moment passes, reflect. What grounded you? What would you do differently next time? That builds your personal playbook.
Taking Back Control
I still feel anxiety. Sometimes I forget the tools. But I know how to come back to them when I need them. And that changes everything.
You’re not broken for feeling anxious. And you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it. My book, Kick Anxiety’s Ass, is here when you need a strategy that meets you where you are—and helps you take back control, one step at a time.