The Concept
"Anxiety is often blocked excitement." — Fritz Perls
Anxiety asks "What if something bad happens?" Desire asks "What if something wonderful happens?" They are two sides of the same energetic coin.
Many of us learned to suppress our desires because wanting things felt dangerous or selfish. So, instead of feeling the forward momentum of "I want," we feel the spinning vibration of anxiety. Reclaiming your desire is the most powerful way to transmute anxiety into aliveness.
1 Unearthing the Want
The Anxiety
What are you anxious about right now? (e.g., "I'm anxious about this presentation").
The Hidden Desire
What is the desire underneath that anxiety? (e.g., "I want to be seen as competent," "I want to inspire people").
The Turning Point
Owning Your Hunger
1. The "I Want" Statement
Stand in front of a mirror. Look yourself in the eye. Say "I want [X]" (e.g., I want that job, I want love, I want rest). Say it until you feel it in your gut, not just your head. Notice if anxiety spikes—that's the energy of the want trying to break through.
2. Follow the Impulse
Do one thing today purely because you want to, not because you should. Eat the cake. Wear the bright shirt. Take the nap. Train your nervous system that your desire is a valid compass.