The Surprising Antidote to Anxiety (It's Not What You Think)

In her new book Beyond Anxiety, Martha Beck offers a perspective that stopped me in my tracks: the opposite of anxiety isn't calm—it's creativity.

Think about those days when you feel on edge. Everything feels a bit too much. Your mind races, your shoulders tense, and you find yourself bracing against life rather than moving through it. The natural response is to seek calm—to try to relax, to breathe deeply, to find stillness.

But what happens when we do find that calm? What opens up in that space?

Often, what emerges isn't just peace—it's possibility. When we're no longer caught in that loop of tension and worry, we naturally begin to wonder, to imagine, to create. Our world expands rather than contracts.

This insight is backed by neuroscience. Dr. Judson Brewer's research shows that simply allowing ourselves to be curious—even just making a gentle "hmmmm" sound—can shift our brains from a state of agitation to one of exploration.

Think of it this way: Anxiety narrows our focus to potential threats. Creativity, by its very nature, opens us to potential opportunities. Where anxiety says "what could go wrong?", creativity asks "what could be possible?"

This doesn't mean we shouldn't seek calm when we're feeling overwhelmed. But perhaps instead of seeing calm as the destination, we might view it as a doorway—one that leads not just away from anxiety, but toward something richer: the natural human drive to create, contribute, and engage with life's possibilities.

Next time you're feeling that edge of anxiety, try this: Take those calming breaths, yes. But then ask yourself: "What might I create from this space?"

Much love,

Marijke Ocean

P.S. Since last August, I've been wrestling with my own sense of overwhelm, and I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find moments of calm, let alone creativity. Martha's observation resonates so much with me because it feels so true that what I really crave more than calm - is that spark of engagement and possibility that lies beyond. I invite you to explore whether or not this is true for you too !