Visualising My Anxiety Has Helped Me Accept It: The Elastic Band Analogy

21st December 2020. The day the world went through and energetic shift, with Jupiter and Saturn aligning all in the Age of Aquarius. It’s supposed to bring luck and an era of social change and activism.

And I felt this shift in energy.

I recharged and began to take care of myself again. For myself, growing out my hair has been a sign of neglect and a deterioration of my mental health. The last time I grew my hair out, I had left religion and dealt with some difficult repercussions of that, which saw a lack of care and confidence in my physical appearance.

Cutting it after that period signified a cutting away of the pain and trauma. It was a new beginning.

November saw the same, and as I battled with my body and anxiety it continued into December. Until yesterday, I slept in and took the day slowly. I had breakfast out with my friend and a self-care day. I cut my hair, and it felt like I was cutting away those couple of weeks.

There was just something in my energy that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I felt confidence from my mind and my body. I felt in control again of my body again. I began to see glimpses of the girl I was this time a year ago today. A girl with energy and fire ready to take on the world.

This year has been rough and I don’t doubt the new year will be. But, my dream last night really helped me see things from a different perspective.

I don’t know where it came from but I like to call it the ‘Elastic Band Analogy.’ I am an elastic band. I sometimes let myself get stretched out and spread to thin but giving a lot of myself away. This creates tension, which displays itself in the physical forms of anxiety.

I have learnt to release that tension. By accepting that the world is a little chaotic and out of control. I have to let go and release fears of the future so I can get through the day. Release and let go of the worries, release that tension and whatever is meant to be will make its way to me when it’s right.

I have no idea why this is what I dreamt up, but it is giving me peace which is helping me see the bigger picture again. It is giving me the energy to focus on the causes I care about and the motivation to make change.

But, most importantly it is teaching me how to relax again, and to give to myself as much as I give to others. It has taught me my worth and what I deserve, and now I have focus I won’t settle for less than that.