Anxiety and nervousness can stop a person experiencing life fully. Some people concentrate on what can go wrong in a given situation and become fixated on how to avoid the terrible consequences of which others seem blissfully ignorant. The constant process of trying to bend reality with your will can be extremely tiring. Stress levels of a regular high level will impact the ability for a person to function without low energy levels and higher illness probability. If a person is constantly avoiding risk it is likely that they will be also avoiding parts of life that actually provide the thrills that can inspire them. It isn’t that anxious people don’t want to experience adventure and enjoy life, however it is difficult for them to break away from their habitual concentration on avoiding catastrophe.
Effects of anxiety and stress:
- energy levels drop
- individual is prone to periods of depression
- teeth can be damaged due to grinding while sleeping
- the body can be exposed to illness due to lowered levels of immunity
Positive thinkers see opportunities for progress while melancholic thinkers see opportunities for setbacks. This has a long term impact on the ability for a melancholic thinker to recognise and take advantage of the opportunities that life has to offer. The time we have is precious and finite so we need to respect that fact and revel in our time. Melancholic thinkers can benefit from time out from the regular routines that these people feel safe within. Routine is a safe bubble that anxious people naturally build around them so that they can feel isolated from the flood of opportunities for problems that life presents. Routine is also a trap that isolates anxious people from discovering the aspects of life that can free them from their previously understood limitations. Anxious people can resent others that don’t live by self-imposed limitations. These other people don’t seem to recognise their personal responsibility to society and spend their time pleasing themselves. The reason this resentment is felt so intensely is that anxious people secretly envy the freedom others live by and want that for themselves.
I write this article with the knowledge that I am a melancholic thinker. I see the possible problems in the world to avoid and can quickly imagine what could go wrong. Much of my time is spent avoiding problems which is in itself a reasonable pursuit, however if you spend all of your time doing this, when do you have time to for creative thinking? When do you get time to appreciate the positive features of the world and really consider the amazing possibilities most of us have in our lives? If people in your life tend to the negative style of thinking and you watch News and Current Affairs programs it will be very easy for you to have a view of the world skewed to the negative. It is absolutely the case that terrible things occur in this world: War, Disease, Famine, Terrorism, and accidents. Those things do exist and should not be ignored, however have you ever noticed that positive thinkers around you seem to be happy anyway? They are busy creating and making the world a better place while melancholic thinkers feel weighed down by the problems of the world. Have you ever observed positive thinkers and thought they seem disconnected from reality? How can they be so carefree when there is so much to get done and so much that can go wrong? Do you ever resent their lack of responsibility? I remember being infuriated by the lack of sensitivity others show to the common good. I feel attracted to the cultures like those found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. The level of consideration shown in these cultures is very soothing to a melancholic outlook personality. Consideration for the practical needs of others is the core feature of these cultures that I admire.
Breaking out of the routine bubble can change your life and open your eyes to a range of other opportunities. You may have mapped out your life and feel trapped by a destiny that has been created for you by society or even by yourself. Travel can vaporise this myth by allowing you to experience a huge range of other ways of living and thinking. This payoff alone is easily worth the financial commitment you make when deciding to travel.
The act of being prepared and organised can bring peace to an anxious traveller. Being preparing for situations that you can control and accepting situations you can’t control can ease your mind. Examples of this would be ensuring you have organised all the necessary Visas, and at the same time placing your trust in the highly trained and professional pilots to get you to your destination safely.
My experience traveling with a melancholic personality has taught me how to better handle my anxiety and actually enjoy the amazing experiences on offer. I encourage you to check out my free travel E-Book and iPhone planning tool MyTravelCoach for more information.
