I hear it often enough that it seems like a commonly held belief that anxiety somehow improves performance at work and gives one an edge. I believed it too, but with the help of therapy, I came to realize it’s not true. If anything, this belief makes us worse at a lot of things—not the least of which is feeling okay.
Where does this belief come from?
One reason is that we try to reduce anxiety with activity. Doing a lot of things makes it feel under our control. It’s easy to see how the association between “doing a lot of stuff all the time” and “my anxiety increases my performance” happens.
Another reason is that constantly worrying about different scenarios, helps anticipate situations before they happen. Constantly thinking about what could happen makes it feel like we are prepared and therefore in control. It’s easy to see how the association between “worrying about stuff all the time” and “my anxiety increases my performance” again happens.
The downside of this belief is that it leads to doing the wrong things and burning out. It’s hard to see clearly when one’s judgement is clouded with constant worrying and anticipation. It’s hard to focus on the most important things when one’s time is filled with endless busy work. Stress and anxiety are cumulative and so, continuing this pattern is how one burns out.
If depression is living in the past and anxiety is living in the future, what’s missing is obviously the present! By treating anxiety and letting go of the notion that it gives you an edge, we are better able to focus on the present. Focus is hugely important to performance (maybe the most important?), especially today when everything is constantly competing for your attention.
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