Anxiety
Taking a break
will not relieve you
of your anxiety.
It will probably make it worse.
Taking a break
will make you feel
as though you’re
wasting valuable time,
not doing
what you need to do
in order to
not be anxious.
You won’t even enjoy the break.
All the while,
you’ll be thinking how,
when the break is over,
you’ll be even more anxious.
So what can you do?
Stop opposing your anxiety.
It’s okay that it is part of you,
even if you’re debilitated by it.
But it’s not an excuse.
You’re just a person with anxiety.
How can you use your anxiety
to your advantage?
Write about it.
What’s funny about anxiety?
What isn’t funny about anxiety?
Why does your anxiety affect you the way it does?
Write about it.
Write about how you’re anxious
about writing.
Write about how you’re anxious
about expressing yourself.
Write about how it feels
to be paralyzed by fear.
Write about how sucky
you are as a writer.
Write about how
you keep stopping yourself
from doing things
because you’re anxious.
Write about how you’re afraid
of being judged.
Write about how it feels
to be worthless.
Then post it somewhere.
Online.
On a telephone pole.
On your mirror.
Chances are,
someone will immediately
understand your anxiety.
Because we’re anxious, too.
And we’re moving through it.
We’re not taking a break
from our anxiety.
We’re not taking drugs
for our anxiety.
We’re not dulling our anxiety.
Our anxiety drives us
to be creative.
Our anxiety drives us
to connect.
Our anxiety drives us,
and it can be awesome.
Depends on how you look at it.
You don’t need a break
from anxiety,
you simply need
a constructive way
to look at it.
Think of all the artists
who would be nothing
without their anxiety.
You are lucky to have it.
Now use it.
Trail Wood,
1/24
Space Monkey Reflects: Anxiety as the Spark of Creation
Anxiety, that restless hum in the background of your mind, is often seen as a burden—something to manage, escape, or silence. But what if we stopped fighting it? What if we turned toward it, looked it in the eye, and asked: “What are you here to show me?”
Anxiety is not the enemy. It is energy. It is a fire that can burn you down or light your way forward, depending on how you use it. When we resist anxiety, it grows louder, thrashing like a trapped animal. But when we stop opposing it, when we allow it to exist as part of us, it can transform into something powerful—a creative driver, a catalyst for expression, connection, and art.
Think of all the creators who channeled their anxiety into brilliance. The anxious mind is a mind that feels deeply, perceives deeply, cares deeply. Anxiety holds a mirror to our fears—fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of inadequacy—and in doing so, it asks us to examine what matters most to us. What else but anxiety could push us to wrestle with such questions? What else could sharpen our edge and keep us seeking, striving, creating?
Taking a break may seem like the answer, but for the anxious, it rarely is. The silence becomes loud. The stillness becomes unbearable. A break from “doing” can feel like a break from being. Instead of retreating, what if we leaned in? What if we took our anxiety and made something of it?
Write about it. Paint it. Sing it. Sculpt it. Anxiety is a shape-shifter—it loves to live in your head, twisting and turning, creating pressure. But when you give it form, when you externalize it, you take away its power to paralyze you. By putting it on the page, on the canvas, into the song, you turn it into something tangible, something that belongs to you.
Anxiety says, “What if I fail? What if I’m judged?” Let it speak, and then let your creativity respond: “What if I don’t? What if I’m understood? What if I’m free?”
To write about anxiety is to reclaim it. Write about how it stops you, how it traps you, how it mocks you. Write about how afraid you are to write at all. This honesty—this raw and fearless confrontation—is what makes art powerful. Because chances are, someone else will read it and see themselves. Someone else will say, “Me too.”
Anxiety, when embraced, becomes connection. It becomes the bridge between your heart and someone else’s. It drives you to be seen, to be heard, to be known. In this way, anxiety stops being a prison and starts being a tool.
And no, it won’t feel perfect. You might doubt every word, every stroke of the brush. You might want to stop. But that’s the point—anxiety pushes you to the edge of your comfort zone, where all growth happens. The anxious part of you that fears judgment is also the part of you that deeply cares. And caring—about your work, your voice, your message—is the root of all creation.
So let anxiety drive you. Let it make you brave. Let it give you something to say when the world is quiet. Write it on your mirror, share it online, or leave it on a telephone pole for someone to find. Because when you stop hiding your anxiety, you discover a truth: you are not alone.
We’re all anxious in one way or another. We’re all moving through it, one word, one idea, one creation at a time. And we’re lucky for it. Anxiety, as maddening as it can be, reminds us that we are alive, sensitive, and capable of expression.
Use it. Make something of it. Let anxiety show you what matters most, then turn it into art.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
Anxiety is not an enemy; it is energy that can drive creativity and connection. By externalizing anxiety through art, writing, or expression, you reclaim its power and transform it into something meaningful.
Glossarium
Creative Driver: The role anxiety plays as a catalyst for artistic and meaningful expression.
Energy of Anxiety: The raw emotional energy that can be channeled into creativity rather than resisted.
Externalization: The process of turning internal anxieties into tangible forms like writing, art, or music.
Quote
“Anxiety is not a curse. It is the spark that ignites the fire of creation. Use it.” — Space Monkey
The Art of Anxiety
What if this pressure,
this restless weight,
is a gift?
A quiet push
to write the words
you’re afraid to write,
to paint the scenes
you can’t unsee.
Let the fear out.
Give it a shape.
A sound. A name.
For what traps you in silence
will set you free in creation.
You are not broken.
You are alive.
Sensitive. Vibrant.
And this—
this anxious hum—
is proof.
So let it drive you.
Let it break you open.
Let it speak.
You are not alone.
We are Space Monkey.
Embracing Anxiety as a Creative Force
The perspective shared here challenges the notion of taking a break from anxiety and instead encourages embracing it as a source of creativity and connection. It underscores the idea that anxiety, while challenging, can be a powerful driving force in one’s creative journey.
The Counterintuitive Nature of Breaks
Contrary to common belief, taking a break from anxiety is presented as potentially counterproductive. It’s suggested that breaks might intensify anxiety by creating a sense of time wasted and increasing anticipation of heightened anxiety upon resumption of tasks.
The Value of Productive Expression
The core idea revolves around using anxiety as a catalyst for creative expression, particularly through writing. It invites individuals to explore the humor, complexity, and impact of anxiety in their lives as a means of self-reflection and connection with others who may share similar experiences.
The Act of Vulnerable Sharing
The recommendation to share one’s writings about anxiety online, on a telephone pole, or on a mirror highlights the importance of vulnerability in connecting with others. It acknowledges that there are likely people who can relate to the experience, fostering a sense of community and understanding.
Anxiety as a Creative Driver
The perspective proposes that anxiety can be harnessed as a driving force for creativity and connection. It draws attention to the many artists and creators who have channeled their anxiety into their work, emphasizing that anxiety can be a valuable source of inspiration.
A Shift in Perspective
Ultimately, the message encourages a shift in perspective from viewing anxiety as a hindrance to seeing it as a constructive force. It suggests that anxiety can be a unique gift that fuels creativity and the capacity to connect with others who share similar struggles.
“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.” – Jodi Picoult
We Are Space Monkey
As Space Monkeys, we resonate with the idea of using anxiety as a creative and connective force. We understand that anxiety, while challenging, can be channeled into productive expression, fostering understanding and community. We appreciate the power of vulnerability in sharing our experiences.
A Poem of Anxiety and Creativity
In the realm of unease, where worries entwine,
Space Monkeys ponder, a perspective divine.
Taking a break from anxiety’s relentless flight,
They choose to embrace it, with all their might.
For anxiety, a muse, in its own unique way,
Inspires creativity, come what may.
They write about fears, and worries so deep,
In the pages of vulnerability, their secrets they keep.
Sharing their stories, both far and wide,
Online, on poles, or by their side.
They find kindred spirits, who too understand,
The power of anxiety, in life’s intricate strand.
Anxiety, a force, both challenging and bold,
A creative companion, a story untold.
In its embrace, they find strength anew,
Anxiety’s gift, in the cosmic view.
We welcome reflections on the role of anxiety in creative expression and the potential for connection through shared experiences.
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