Fear and anxiety can be debilitating emotions that can hold us back in life and prevent us from living our best lives. They can also have negative impacts on our physical health and overall well-being. So, how can we stop fear and anxiety and unleash health and happiness in our lives? 

The first step is to take control of these emotions, start by being conscious of how you think, speak, and act in response to a situation. Making this conscious effort may seem difficult at first, but with practice, recognizing patterns and developing new ones can help identify unhealthy cycles that exist in your life. 

When faced with feelings of fear or anxiety, don't try to ignore them or push them away. Instead learn to surrender to their presence and choose to work through the uncomfortable sensation until it passes. 

When we make the shift from choosing avoidance to facing the situation head-on, confidence, peace, and calmness eventually take the place that fear or anxiety originally hold. It's important to remember that we all have the capacity for both health and happiness within us - it just takes releasing what's holding us back from our inner strength and unlocking our natural potential.

Doing that one thing in itself can help you stop fear and anxiety in its tracks so you can unleash your health and happiness.

But we want to make sure you’re fully prepared for your happiness and health journey, so here are 17 tips to help you stop fear and anxiety and unleash health and happiness… 

1. Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques

Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It can help you become more aware of your thought patterns and allow you to take a step back from them. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation, can also help you calm your mind and reduce feelings of fear and anxiety.

Practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques can be an excellent cure for anxiety and an effective way to unleash happiness. The goal of both mindfulness and relaxation is to release stress from the body, center our awareness on the present moment, and help us refocus on all that is good in our lives. 

This practice can also help us better handle any stressful situations that come our way since it helps us learn how to control our emotions and feelings. Taking time for ourselves can help increase feelings of joy and peace by allowing us to appreciate the small moments in life like the beauty of nature, focusing on our passions or hobbies, spending time with friends, or simply engaging in self-care. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques provide us with a sense of balance in our day-to-day lives, helping us stay focused and relaxed no matter what awaits around the corner.

2. Exercise regularly

Exercise has been shown to be an effective way to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and improve mood and happiness. It can also help you feel more confident and in control of your body and your life. 

How? By helping to stay focused on the present moment by providing distraction from worrying thoughts and improving both mental and physical wellbeing. Regular physical exercise releases endorphins, the body’s “feel-good hormones”, which helps to reduce stress levels and produce a sense of calmness. Besides the short-term effects of relieving anxiety, exercise also has lasting psychological benefits. 

People who regularly engage in physical activities have been shown to have better cognitive functioning, improved moods, improved sleep patterns, and increased self-esteem than those who don't. Therefore, if you are looking for a natural way to manage your anxiety and unleash happiness within yourself, regular exercise should be part of your daily routine.

3. Get enough sleep

Sleeping can be one of the most efficient and effective ways to help reduce anxiety and increase happiness. While we sleep, our bodies rest, regenerate, and restore energy. Our mental connection with reality is weakened enough that anxious thoughts are muted allowing us to wake with a more refreshed and lighter feeling. Lack of sleep can contribute to feelings of anxiety and worry.

Also keep in mind that the quality of your sleep has a tremendous effect on your moods and overall well-being throughout the day. 

If a person's body is not listening to its natural rhythm – along with external influences such as caffeine or digital screens – it can lead to an unhealthy cycle of insomnia that contributes heavily to feelings of angst and despair. Get yourself on track now by creating a consistent sleep schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and of course get your recommended 8 hours of sleep every night in order to take charge of your anxiety levels and unleash pure joy!

4. Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet is an essential step to stopping feelings of anxiety and feeling more contentment and joy: two essential components for ultimate happiness. By avoiding processed sugars, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and getting lean proteins, you can start to treat your body with the nourishment it needs to regulate moods more effectively. 

Not only that, but having control over what goes into your body will make you feel empowered when it comes to managing physical and mental well-being. A healthy diet is just one of the pieces of the puzzle needed to help you move towards living happier and healthier each day!

5. Seek support

It can be helpful to talk to someone about your fears and anxieties. This could be a trusted friend or family member, a therapist, or a support group. Sharing your experiences and getting support from others can help you feel less alone and more empowered to manage your emotions.

Managing anxiety can be overwhelming, and finding ways to cope can seem elusive. Reaching out for help is a great way to start taking action and bringing relief. There are numerous, accessible resources available today that make seeking support easier than ever. 

From online mental health resources to in-person counselors, therapists and support groups, tapping into one of these outlets can be an invaluable tool in reducing anxiety and unlocking your happiness. You can even talk to a trusted friend. The point is that sharing your experiences and getting support from others can help you feel less alone and more empowered to manage your emotions. Putting yourself in a position to take back control over your emotional wellbeing.

6. Challenge negative thoughts

Our thoughts can have a powerful influence on our emotions and behaviors. It can be helpful to challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to fear and anxiety. Because when it looms too large in our lives and keeps us from doing the things we want to do, it can be very damaging. 

The good news is that there are actionable steps everyone can take to challenge negative thinking and stop that wide-reaching grip of anxiety before it even begins. 

One tool is cognitive reframing, which involves examining your thoughts and experiences through a different lens by replacing negative beliefs with more empowering ones. Or you can talk to a therapist about cognitive-behavioral techniques that can help you change negative thought patterns.

Acknowledging how our brains can form patterns of destructive habits is key to breaking out of the cycle and finding new sources of joy in life. By being aware of our thoughts, generating self-compassion for yourself in times of distress, and challenging irrational fears or beliefs, you’ll be able to start letting go of the mindset that leads to stress or burnout and finally make way for the happiness we all deserve.

7. Practice gratitude

Focusing on the things that you are grateful for can help shift your perspective and reduce feelings of worry and stress. Acknowledge what you have – be it a valuable relationship, gift or a possession, by practicing gratitude thinking. You can do this by consciously thinking about it or you can try keeping a gratitude journal where you can write down a few things you are thankful for each day.

By doing this simple exercise - of taking time out to recognize what is most significant and important in your life - can help work miracles to bring joyfulness in life and reduce anxiety. It not only calms our mind but also makes us appreciate the abundance that we often take for granted, leading to greater contentment and peace of mind. Expressing deep thanks for even small things gives us clarity on what truly matters and allows us to focus more on positive aspects rather than succumbing to negative emotions. After all, living an attitude of gratitude helps bring happiness into everyday life.

8. Set realistic goals

Learning to set realistic goals can be an incredibly powerful tool in managing anxiety and unlocking more happiness. When the expectations we have of ourselves or the world around us are not met, it leads to unhappiness, stress and frustration. To prevent this feeling and keep our mental health in check, it's important to be mindful of setting realistic goals that don't overburden us with expectations. 

Make sure your goals have a purpose and plan for achieving them; break them down into smaller achievable tasks which will help you reach your ultimate goal for an overall sense of accomplishment. Having a focus on these achievable goals throughout the day will give you something to work towards in order to reduce stress and prevent that all-too-familiar anxious feeling from creeping in. You'll also find yourself becoming happier by working towards achieving your smaller goals along the way, rather than waiting for the end result to experience joy and satisfaction.

9. Engage in activities that you enjoy

Doing things that bring you joy and fulfillment can help reduce anxiety and improve your overall well-being. Make time for activities that you enjoy and that bring you a sense of purpose.

The challenge of managing anxiety can be overwhelming at times, but one way to help keep yourself calm and balanced is to engage in activities that you truly enjoy. 

Whether it is painting, baking, running or playing a sport, find something that brings you true and lasting joy. In doing so, you will alleviate stress and diminish worries while also redirecting your attention away from negative thoughts. 

You'll start to feel more energized and connected to life's possibilities - good vibes that can eventually lead to long-term happiness. Immersing yourself in a hobby or activity that motivates and inspires you is an important practice for regulating emotions and living your most satisfying life. If you don’t currently have a hobby or activity you enjoy doing, search until you find one and start bringing intentional joy into your life every single day! 

10. Take breaks

It's important to make time for relaxation and self-care. Taking breaks from life's hustle and bustle is an important way to keep ourselves energized and focused. 

From 10 minutes of meditation to a 30-minute walk, a break lets us step away from our stressors and access our own inner rhythm. 

Having a few moments of peace and quiet can do wonders to reset, reduce anxiety, and help us gain fresh insight into whatever challenges we are facing. Taking breaks, no matter how big or small, encourages positive emotions like gratitude, joy, and hope which increase productivity while lifting overall wellbeing. So hit the pause button - a little break goes a long way towards making the journey through life much more pleasurable.

11. Use positive self-talk

Positive self talk is an incredibly powerful tool to combat anxiety and unlock happiness. With consistent practice, you can condition your brain to think more positively which can help effectively reduce the intensity of anxious thoughts and replace them with positive ones. 

Positive self talk involves talking to yourself as if you were speaking to a dear friend or loved one – fill your thoughts with words of encouragement and gratitude. Another effective way to use positive self talk is to challenge negative or ‘awfulizing’ thoughts with more balanced and optimistic views. Through positive self-talk you can shift the internal focus from worrying about what could go wrong in any given situation, to instead considering potential solutions and focusing on all that’s possible for yourself in each moment.

12. Practice deep breathing

Practicing deep breathing is a simple but powerful way to find inner peace and calm amidst stressful situations. When negative thoughts begin flooding in, take some time for yourself to sit comfortably and focus on your breath, inhaling deeply and allowing it to fill you from head to toe, before exhaling slowly, releasing everything that has been building up all day. 

This meditation can be used in the moment or as part of your morning routine; by taking just five minutes out of your day for this exercise, you may feel more focused and energized. With regular practice, you will find anxiety subsiding as you become familiar with the sensations of relaxation that accompany mindful breathing. Furthermore, it may also help unleash happiness by boosting endorphin levels, further reducing stress and anxieties we may be facing.

13. Use visualization

Visualization is an incredibly powerful tool for calming anxiety and creating a sense of happiness. The ability to mentally construct scenarios and visualize positive outcomes allows us to take control of our thoughts and fears. By constructing such mental landscapes, we can begin to explore new possibilities for ourselves, redefining how we feel about a situation by visualizing success. 

Perhaps the most effective way to use visualization is in imagining your ideal future self-- what would you look like if you were happy and free from worry? Using this technique with intention can help you gain insight into your anxieties, as well as shape a brighter outlook on life. 

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, try using visualization to quell your worries and create empowering images that will help keep you motivated.

14. Get out in nature 

Spending time in nature has been shown to have a calming effect on the mind and can help reduce anxiety and stress. Fresh air, sunshine, water sources, and the sound of birds chirping is a great antidote to anxiety and helps us to become more in tune with our emotions. Studies have shown that getting out in nature helps to reset our physiology and shifts us into a happier and more contented state. 

Going for a walk through a park or forest can replace agitation with stillness while mindfulness is inspired by simply observing trees swaying in the wind. Rejuvenation is realized when connecting with the vastness of mountain views and beachscapes as far as the eye can see. Nature beckons us outdoors; it's just waiting to unlock our happiness.

15. Learn stress management techniques

Stress is a normal part of life, but feeling overwhelmed by it can become paralyzing and lead to negative mental health outcomes like anxiety. That’s why stress management techniques are so important. Without proper stress management, it can be hard to enjoy life in the present moment and tap into our lifelong source of joy and happiness. Simple breathing exercises and relaxation techniques help us take back control of our emotional state, breaking the cycle of rumination that feeds anxiety. 

Focusing on maintaining physical activity, self-care, seeking out activities we find interesting or useful, partaking in calming activities such as reading or meditating – these are all choices we can control that may help reduce stress levels. Practicing mindfulness and being mindful of our actions has also been suggested as one way to manage stress. Learning these good stress management techniques is key for anyone wanting to break through their mental blocks in order to reach lasting peace and contentment with themselves and their lives.

16. Practice positive affirmations 

Positive affirmations are positive statements that you can repeat to yourself to help shift your mindset and improve your confidence and well-being. You can create your own affirmations or find ones that resonate with you online.

They’re a truly powerful tool to reduce anxiety, increase happiness, and promote mental wellness. By making an effort to frame thoughts in a positive way, it can rewire our brains to think differently about stressful situations and break through the mental blocks that cause us distress. 

For instance, rather than berating yourself for not reaching a goal, respond with self-encouragement and remind yourself why you are capable of succeeding. Additionally, positive affirmations can be useful for dealing with the uncertainty of life by allowing us to look at stressful times as opportunities for growth. Finally, making a habit of positive affirmations can help us feel grateful for what we have, enabling us to rise above fear and insecurity and tap into inner strength and joy.

17. Practice forgiveness 

Holding onto grudges and resentment can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. So by practicing forgiveness towards others and yourself and letting go of your negative emotions, you can improve your overall well-being.

Not only are we freeing ourselves from the burden of holding onto grudges, but forgiving others helps release negative energy and restore a sense of inner peace. This can often result in greater happiness, allowing us to move forward from any unfortunate situations from our past and fostering inner contentment. Research has shown that even if those who have wronged us show no remorse, forgiveness remains beneficial for reducing anxiety levels. 

Practicing forgiveness is just as beneficial for giving irritations and minor grievances that surface in everyday life. In forgiving ourselves, we can be less critical and more understanding of any mistakes or poor decisions we may have made - ultimately resulting in greater self-compassion, enhanced resilience, and long-term happiness.

We Hope These 17 Strategies Are Helpful! 

By implementing these strategies, you can start to take control of your fear and anxiety and create a happier, healthier life. 

Remember to be patient with yourself and take things one day at a time. With practice, you can learn to manage your emotions and live a fulfilling life.

- Mary and Patti, Co-Founders of Moment to Moment Health 

P.S. If your anxiety is severe or is disrupting your daily life, it may be helpful to seek the support of a mental health professional. A therapist can work with you 1-on-1 to develop individualized strategies to manage your anxiety and improve your overall well-being. If you need any recommendations, email Patti at [email protected]. 

Don't let fear stop you from getting the help you need - making this important step towards a better tomorrow has the potential to transform your entire life for the better!