Tax Time – Anxiety & Worry
Why does March and April bring more stress for most Americans? The beautiful spring weather is just about here yet there is something that happens at this time that also causes anxiety, worry and stress for many people. You’ve probably guessed, it’s because there is a deadline approaching. It’s the one the government controls where we are required to do something that for most isn’t pleasant: Getting the information ready so taxes can be prepared. And it doesn’t feel like a pleasant experience for most people. Even accountants get stressed at this time, because of the stress of having so much to do to serve their clients. And we know that if we ignore this chore, we will have to face unwanted consequences.
So why does tax time create so much of a burden? The first thing that sets most of us off is the HAVE TO feeling. Think about it when you say, I have, notice the gut reaction you get. And the second part triggering stress is the thoughts and images that we have: imagining of all the work involved, having to sit down and find all the paperwork, not doing the things you want to do because you have to get your taxes ready for your accountant to prepare for the government.
And, it seems that no matter the career, we all have this thing in common – we get stressed about deadlines and “have to’s”. And getting taxes ready is one deadline sure to create stress for most of us.
Let’s imagine for just one second how amazing it would be if deadlines no longer stressed you out. If you had a way of feeling calm, tranquil and even joyful no matter the task or deadline. To have a way to feel serene no matter what is going on. How different would it be to get taxes ready if you were in a joyful and serene state of mind.
So let’s look at the first 2 things that add to our stress. It’s interesting that we can create severe stress with our thoughts and the images we create. For most people what is causing the stress (and distress) isn’t actually preparing our taxes – it is the thoughts (worries) and the pictures that our mind creates when thinking about the Have To do feeling.
Our thoughts have power.
What we think actually creates physical symptoms. Just thinking about the tax day deadline can cause anxiety, foggy brain, pain in the gut, and a pounding heart. Some people run to the fridge in the hopes that food will sooth uncomfortable feelings. Others find that the anxiety and stress makes it more difficult to focus. And the more anxiety you have, the more difficult the task becomes.
There is a way to stop the stress cycle:
I’m here to tell you there is good news. You can learn to to stop the anxiety cycle. No matter what your real life stressors are, you can learn to create feelings of serenity and calm where the task will feel so much easier to tackle. Even if you are approaching a task that isn’t a joyful one for you, there are ways of using your mind to your benefit.
There are numerous techniques that I teach my clients to get totally free of the stress that gets in the way in life, career and relationships. Some work with the conscious part of the mind and others on the unconscious programs that get in our way. To get more information on the 3-part system click here.
The first step:
Let’s start with a cognitive (conscious) mind tool. It’s the easiest way to start although there are techniques that I use to change internal reactions the cognitive tool is one you can do on your own.
Why use the Mind Changing Thoughts tool?
When you learn to recognize the thoughts that are causing stress you have a chance to change them. Change your thoughts will give you a very powerful tool for stopping the stress cycle. And it’s a good place to start. The down side of working only on the (thought) cognitive level is that you have to do it many times. Once you learn to use the thought changing tool come back to my articles on changing the internal, hidden triggers that cause stress.
For this exercise we will start by identifying the thoughts that cause stress, fear, worry and procrastination.
Conscious (Cognitive) Technique to Stop Worry
The first steps for changing stress reactions:
1. When feeling stressed stop for a moment. Just say, “STOP” and imagine a big stop sign.
2. Pay attention and notice where you feel the tension in your body.
3. Think back a few moments before you felt stressed.
4. Be curious and notice any thoughts are going through your mind.
5. Once you are aware of the thoughts, you can begin to evaluate if they are true.
6. If thoughts start with the words “what if” you are creating negative outcomes.
7. You can use your mind in a different way. Change “what if ” thoughts
8. Start right now by coming up with at least 2 other possible outcomes. (Make them positive.)
9. Use these two positive possible outcomes to replace the negative thoughts any time they come up.
| There are also techniques you can use to stop the stress cycle on the physical and emotional level. Want to get a jump on the process of quieting the mind using a physical technique? Get the Calming Breath Video guide. It gives you a powerful way to creating calm and serenity.
Audrey Sussman PhD began her quest to find a way to get relief from anxiety and panic after suffering with panic for years. Now she is a nationally recognized seminar leader and author. Years of study and practice lead to her creating the Transformation System for the relief of panic, phobias, migraines and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. |