It's 2pm and I'm sitting here in my lovely office, yoga music chiming delicately in the background, as I move through my workday...when all of the sudden it hits!  That gnawing pit in my gut that simultaneously elevates my heart rate to an easy 100.  Anxiety!  The nasty entity has made its unexpected visit, unscheduled, well-prepared for its unethical encounter upon my peaceful day.

I can tell you the physiologic process that the body experiences when anxiety hits.  I can rationalize why it's wasted energy and tell you exactly what you "should" be doing instead of panicking.  Oh yes...I've got all the answers...until that menacing emotion confronts me and delves into my spirit trying to thwart my precious grasp on my inner stillness. 

Most of the time IT wins. 

This afternoon it hit with its usual affront and I couldn't identify why!  Why am I feeling so anxious?  Why is my heart racing and my stomach in knots when there's been naught but a lovely morning accompanying me to work?  Then it dawned on me... there IS no reason!  This is just that normal "flight or flight" response to something I perceived as a threat (the question asked of me about 15 minutes earlier, "What are we having for dinner?").  Yup, that's what did it. 

There began the process of turning down obnoxious overhead lighting, tuning out distractions and simply riding the breath.  Eventually, the muscles inside my chest wall relaxed and my mind went back to stillness.

Identified, secured and released, I can listen to the yoga music, breathe deeply and resolve to myself, "Arby's".