How to turn your anxiety into a superpower

The moment anxiety announces itself in your chest or stomach – often without warning – is one of the most unwanted feelings there is. But get this: a bit of anxiety can actually help you to live a better life.

If you dig beneath the surface, the fear associated with anxiety is really an intent for things to go well. Whether you realize it or not, that often drives you to take action.

Anxiety about an exam can motivate you to study harder. Anxiety about a job interview can mean you go that extra mile in your preparations. Anxiety about any issue can lead you to talk it over with someone you trust.

The key step: before you become overwhelmed with helplessness, pause and ask yourself how you’ll channel that feeling into action. “How is this feeling going to motivate me to make positive change?”

Your perception of anxiety plays a big role in how it impacts your life. A study at Harvard separated two groups of students before an exam and told one half that anxiety helps you perform better in tests. That same group got better results in the exam.

Research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that efforts to leverage anxiety as “nervous energy” can be more effective than trying to calm yourself down in situations like making a presentation, basic problem-solving, or karaoke.

The main difference is telling yourself “I’m excited” rather than thinking “I’m fine”. Anxiety makes your internal threat detector work in overdrive. If you can train yourself to see threats as opportunities or challenges, you’ll start feeling more positive and empowered.

Fighting anxiety doesn’t make it go away. Start by acknowledging and accepting it. Then take a closer look at the issue. Anxiety can often be irrational, but it’s worth asking why you’re feeling that way.

If the anxiety is about a situation you have some control over (like a first date or a conversation you need to have), use that energy to become proactive. If it’s not something you have control over (like a pandemic), channel that energy into a more creative or constructive outlet.

Anxiety is exhausting. If you’re pushing yourself, take time to recharge by doing whatever little rituals you find most comforting. There’s little point in channeling energy if you can’t manage it long-term. But viewed in the right light, anxiety could be your superpower.