The Mountain and the Breeze

Imagine your mind as a landscape. Anxious thoughts loom like jagged mountains, demanding your attention, while pleasant ones flutter by like a gentle breeze—there one moment, gone the next. Why do we feel compelled to scale every anxiety-fueled peak, yet struggle to savor the fleeting warmth of positivity?

**The Evolutionary Trap: Why Bad Thoughts Stick**

Our brains are wired for survival, not happiness. Thousands of years ago, fixating on threats (like predators) kept us alive. Today, this “negativity bias” lingers, tricking us into treating modern stressors—a critical email, a social slight—as life-or-death crises. The result? We obsessively “problem-solve” hypotheticals, turning molehills into mountains.

**How Anxiety Builds Its Own Mythology**

Anxiety thrives on storytelling. It whispers, *”What if?”* and *”You must fix this NOW,”* weaving sagas of disaster. We cling to these tales, replaying them like a favorite (terrifying) movie. But here’s the twist: **the plot is fictional**. The mountain isn’t real—it’s a mirage built from fear, habit, and outdated wiring.

**The Fleeting Nature of Joy (And Why We Let It Go)**

Positive thoughts, by contrast, lack urgency. Joy doesn’t scream for attention; it’s a quiet hum. We dismiss it as “too simple” or “unproductive,” as if happiness must be earned through suffering. But this neglect reinforces the cycle: anxiety’s loudness drowns out contentment, leaving us stranded at the base of another self-made mountain.

**The Solution: Drop the Rope**

Your power lies in recognizing the illusion. When Anxious Thoughts and anxiety shouts, *”Climb this mountain!”* ask:
– *Is this story true, or just familiar?*
– *What if I don’t engage?*

**Here’s the secret: You don’t have to climb.**

Even if you’ve already started scaling the slope, you can stop. Mid-climb, remind yourself: *This is a self-made tale. The mountain doesn’t exist.* Walk away. Redirect your energy to grounding practices:
1. **Name the story**: “Ah, there’s my ‘I’ll fail’ narrative.”
2. **Shift focus**: Breathe deeply, notice your surroundings, or jot down three things you’re grateful for.
3. **Embrace that this is not going to last a long time **:
Anxiety, like weather, passes. Don’t build a home in the storm.

**Conclusion: Reclaim Your Mental Landscape**

Anxiety is a persuasive author, but you hold the pen. Each time you refuse to climb, you weaken its grip. Meanwhile, nurture joy by lingering on positive moments—write them down, share them, let them root. Over time, the mountains shrink, and the breeze grows louder.

Next time anxiety beckons, pause. Ask: *Does this mountain deserve my time?* Then plant a flag of awareness, and step back. The view from solid ground is clearer than any summit.

Please send along any comments or suggestions to gerard.tripping@gmail.com