I played pickleball last Tuesday. It’s fun and good exercise, and I’m getting better at it.
Beforehand, though, I'm filled with doubts and fear. Will I hurt myself or look dumb? Am I too old, or will other players tire of my misplays? It doesn't stop me, but I have to push myself to go. The feelings dissolve completely once I’m playing, though. So, I'm figuring out ways to resolve them and look forward to going as well as playing.
Janice, this is a good breakdown. I live with low level anxiety, and sometimes label it as fear, even though I know it isn't. It's just easier to say I'm scared instead of anxious. One thing I've learned in life: walk through the fear and do it anyway. Sometimes this gets me in trouble but more times than not the rewards are great.
I was enlightened by these definitions of fear versus anxiety, too! Very helpful insights. I’ve been feeling anxiety lately for no specific reason. I remember my dad called it “free-floating anxiety” when there seemed to be nothing specific causing someone’s anxiety. It’s just there.
Janice, thanks so much for this post. I've been struggling with fear and anxiety due to health issues and it's been hard to separate what is what. This really helped me to see the fear separately from the anxiety.
We must do the thing that is hard… I try to tell myself! I still play at almost 80 …but I have to push myself some days. I call it being wise and aware rather than anxiety about falling, not playing well! 😂 I’ll be sore the next day but it’s a good sore when we’ve worked out, laugh a lot and that in-the-moment feeling when it’s just you and a ball! Keep at it Janice! We can do it! 🏓🏓🏓😊
I am very aware of the 'low-lying rumble that lives below my thinking mind". I, as a rule, feel no fear in my daily life, but I know it is there, just under the surface. It lives in the same place my sadness lives, ready to appear with no advance notice! Both these emotions sneak out in my writing, when I do not intend them to. Thank you, once again, Janice, for doing our homework for us and presenting this gift of at-hand resources. You are an angel.
Hi Janice. Totally get this. I have anxiety around doing stuff. Will I have enough energy? Am I overdoing it in order to go and do xyz? But mostly, it works out just fine. Over the last year I started calling it "pre-match nerves"!
I played pickleball last Tuesday. It’s fun and good exercise, and I’m getting better at it.
Beforehand, though, I'm filled with doubts and fear. Will I hurt myself or look dumb? Am I too old, or will other players tire of my misplays? It doesn't stop me, but I have to push myself to go. The feelings dissolve completely once I’m playing, though. So, I'm figuring out ways to resolve them and look forward to going as well as playing.
As I age, I feel like there are more reasons to feel fear and anxiety. Meditation, prayer, exercise and distracting activities help me get past it.
Janice, this is a good breakdown. I live with low level anxiety, and sometimes label it as fear, even though I know it isn't. It's just easier to say I'm scared instead of anxious. One thing I've learned in life: walk through the fear and do it anyway. Sometimes this gets me in trouble but more times than not the rewards are great.
I was enlightened by these definitions of fear versus anxiety, too! Very helpful insights. I’ve been feeling anxiety lately for no specific reason. I remember my dad called it “free-floating anxiety” when there seemed to be nothing specific causing someone’s anxiety. It’s just there.
Janice, thanks so much for this post. I've been struggling with fear and anxiety due to health issues and it's been hard to separate what is what. This really helped me to see the fear separately from the anxiety.
We must do the thing that is hard… I try to tell myself! I still play at almost 80 …but I have to push myself some days. I call it being wise and aware rather than anxiety about falling, not playing well! 😂 I’ll be sore the next day but it’s a good sore when we’ve worked out, laugh a lot and that in-the-moment feeling when it’s just you and a ball! Keep at it Janice! We can do it! 🏓🏓🏓😊
I am very aware of the 'low-lying rumble that lives below my thinking mind". I, as a rule, feel no fear in my daily life, but I know it is there, just under the surface. It lives in the same place my sadness lives, ready to appear with no advance notice! Both these emotions sneak out in my writing, when I do not intend them to. Thank you, once again, Janice, for doing our homework for us and presenting this gift of at-hand resources. You are an angel.
Hi Janice. Totally get this. I have anxiety around doing stuff. Will I have enough energy? Am I overdoing it in order to go and do xyz? But mostly, it works out just fine. Over the last year I started calling it "pre-match nerves"!
This was a nice breakdown that immediately helped me look at my anxiety from a new perspective. Thank you.