We all know the idiom “looking through rose-colored glasses.” It means you’re looking at someone or something in an idealistic – or unduly favorable – way. It means you’ve lost your objectivity. Your vision has become distorted.
Visual distortion can also happen when you look at your life through anxiety’s glasses. Instead of rose-colored, these glasses are usually dark and grimy. Rather than making you look at someone or something in an unduly favorable way, you see the opposite – unduly negative situations.
Often, it’s irrational thoughts and beliefs that distort someone’s perception of reality. The biggest problem is that these thoughts occur so automatically and these beliefs become so habitual that you fail to realize what’s happening.
Before you know it, your negative thinking gets you lost in a maze of anxiety. And you can’t even see well enough through those grimy glasses to realize that you are lost!
Have Anxiety’s Glasses Distorted Your View?
If anxiety is impacting your work, relationships, and perception of yourself, you may be looking through the wrong glasses. Understanding the issue is the first step on your road to overcome anxiety.
But how would you know if your vision is obscured?
Consider some examples of irrational thoughts and beliefs that may have distorted your perception of reality. Ask yourself:
- Am I always seeing things in black-and-white – as good or bad and right or wrong – failing to see the middle ground?
- Do my expressions include a lot of “should,” “could,” “ought,” or “must”? When I use them in statements about myself, is it because I feel guilty or ashamed?
- Do I always blame myself for external circumstances that I actually have no control over? Or do I do the opposite, seeing everything as someone else’s fault?
- Do I tend to think of my opinions as facts? Do I believe I’m always right? And do I have trouble admitting my mistakes or flaws?
- Despite lacking external confirmation, do I believe I know what others think? Do I tend to arbitrarily predict a negative outcome and assume the worst about any situation?
- Am I using statements that include “always,” “never,” “every,” or “all” a lot? Do I usually conclude that I am a failure just because I made one mistake?
- Do I blow negative things out of proportion or distort reality by minimizing positive events? Is my focus always on the negative and critical parts of matters?
If you answered “yes” to many of these questions, it may be time to take those anxiety glasses off.
Changing Your Thinking Pattern and Distorted Perceptions to See Clearly Again
A clear and realistic view of situations is the first step to helping you overcome anxiety. By adjusting your automatic thoughts and habitual beliefs, you can influence your emotions and behaviors positively.
Many people with anxiety problems had negative life experiences. Most often, it’s not a single instance that brings about anxiety-related issues, but constant smaller actions – put-downs, shaming, blaming, and ridicule. Little by little, these things make you feel guilty and utterly worthless.
But you can change your personal thinking pattern and address those irrational beliefs. Break the pattern and assume control. Challenge your thoughts and finally take off those anxiety glasses that have distorted your perception for far too long.
A clear view makes all the difference in the world. It’s the difference between remaining hopeful despite all your problems or distraught and anxious.
Remember: Your circumstances don’t define you. You have the power to choose your attitude.
See clearly! See anxiety for what it is – a learned behavior that you were conditioned to exhibit due to your negative life experiences.
Then, take action. Take those dark and grimy anxiety glasses off – for good!
