By Michelle McLaughlin
When you think of anxiety, freedom isn’t the first word that comes to mind. In fact, anxiety feels heavy and unmanageable. But here’s a surprising truth: real freedom comes from being willing to feel and face your anxiety. It may sound strange—why would you want to lean into anxiety? Stay with me, and I’ll show you how embracing this emotion can unlock a deeper sense of peace and freedom in your life.
Vulnerability Is the Path to Freedom
So many people believe that a truly happy life means never feeling anxiety again. But anxiety isn’t something we can erase from our lives. It’s part of being human and experiencing life with a full range of emotions. Everyone has anxiety on some level so waiting for the day anxiety disappears will only lead to frustration. And, then more anxiety!
Begin to see anxiety as an invitation to be vulnerable and tune inward. It’s a signal urging you to pause and pay closer attention to your “inner world”. When you embrace it, you will uncover what’s truly going on and begin to heal and grow.
Facing Anxiety: The Key to Letting Go
True freedom doesn’t mean anxiety will disappear. Instead, it’s about learning to face it, feel it, and move forward with clarity. Anxiety often feels overwhelming because we get stuck in a cycle of resistance but when we stop fighting it and allow ourselves to feel it fully, anxiety loses most of its power.
The next time you feel anxious, notice how it shows up in your body. Is your heart racing? Are your shoulders tense? Do you feel short of breath? Anxiety often stems from all the “stories” we tell ourselves—worries about the future or regrets about the past. Instead of getting caught in these same old “stories” focus your attention on the present moment and explore how and where you feel anxiety in your body.
Tune In, Don’t Tune Out
Avoiding discomfort starts to feel like it’s a natural impulse. We distract ourselves with food, shopping, work, alcohol or worry to escape what feels overwhelming. Real freedom begins when you recognize the signs of anxiety and choose to stay with it. When your shoulders tighten, your thoughts race, or your breathing quickens, pause. Instead of numbing yourself, ask:
What am I feeling right now?
What’s triggering this?
How can I care for myself in this moment?
By turning inward with compassion, you create space for healing and growth.
Lean Into the Discomfort
It’s tempting to fight or avoid anxiety, but the path to freedom lies in leaning into it. Sit with the discomfort and explore the lesson. Treat yourself with the same kindness and patience you would offer a dear friend or child.
In my own journey, I’ve faced grief, illness, addiction, divorce, and financial loss—each bringing more waves of anxiety. But by leaning into those emotions, I’ve grown stronger, happier, and more resilient. I’ve learned to ask myself:
Have I done everything I can?
What if things work out better than I expect?
What lesson is this bringing me?
Then, I release what I can’t control, put my hand over my heart and say, “you are loved, you are ok and you can do this”. This simple practice and taking action have given me insight, strength and the momentum to move my life forward.
Freedom Is Beyond the Fear
What holds us back isn’t anxiety itself—it’s our fear of facing it. We tell ourselves we can’t handle the discomfort, so we avoid it. But by avoiding, we lose connection to ourselves and our lives.
Take a moment right now. Breathe deeply and feel what’s happening in your body. Let yourself experience whatever discomfort is present without judgment. Your body doesn’t need you to fix anything, it just needs your presence and attention to be safe.
When you stop running from anxiety and begin to find compassion for yourself, you’ll find that it no longer controls you. It’s in that moment you’ll discover true freedom—the freedom to be kind to yourself, look at uncertainty and step confidently into the life you really want to experience.
You are capable of more than you know. Let anxiety be your guide to your “inner compass” of growth, self-discovery, and the freedom to live fully.
Michelle McLaughlin is a guide, a wise woman, and an accomplished coach experienced in supporting women as they navigate remarkable, unexpected, and / or most challenging transitions in life. Often referred to by other female leaders as “the most courageous woman” they know, McLaughlin has endured cancer, alcoholism, divorce, depression and grief… and emerged stronger, bolder and more capable to lead other women into new directions. A courage creator and pioneer, Michelle is the mentor any woman would love to have by their side — and every woman deserves. She loves the CA lifestyle and splits her time between San Diego and Palm Desert. For a complimentary 30-minute coaching call or text 760.285.1241 and/or email questions to michelle@innerwisdom4u.com
