Reframing Your Body’s Signals

A Powerful Tool for Managing Anxiety –

Anxiety has a way of hijacking our bodies. Your heart races, your stomach tightens, your breath becomes shallow—and before you even process what’s happening, your brain decides: This is bad.

But what if those same physical sensations didn’t mean danger? What if, instead of a sign that something is wrong, you saw them as a sign that your body is preparing you for something important?

This is where reframing comes in—a powerful tool rooted in neuroscience that can help you shift from panic to empowerment.

Listen to the podcast episode here!

Why Anxiety Feels Overwhelming (and Why You Can Change That)

According to Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett’s research, emotions aren’t something that simply happen to us. Instead, our brain is constantly making predictions based on bodily sensations, past experiences, and context.

That means when you feel your heart pounding, your brain is making a guess about why. Is it fear? Is it excitement? Is it readiness? And the meaning you assign to that sensation will dictate how you feel and respond.

The good news? You can train your brain to make a different prediction—one that helps you, rather than holds you back.

How to Reframe Anxiety Into Something Useful

1. Recognize the Sensation Without Judgment
   • Instead of thinking, Oh no, I’m anxious again, try My body is giving me extra energy right now.
   • This helps you observe the feeling without adding unnecessary fear to it.
2. Label It Differently
   • Studies have shown that simply labeling anxious feelings as “excitement” rather than “fear” shifts how the brain processes them.
   • Next time you feel anxiety creeping in, tell yourself: I’m feeling activated and ready.
3. Use the Energy to Your Advantage
   • Anxiety creates a surge of adrenaline, which can actually be useful if directed properly.
   • Instead of letting it paralyze you, use it to sharpen focus, prepare more thoroughly, or take action.

Real-Life Examples of Reframing Anxiety

• Before a Presentation
  
  • Instead of: I’m so nervous, what if I mess up?
  • Try: This energy means I care. I can use it to speak with enthusiasm.

• Before a Hard Conversation
  
  • Instead of: I hate this feeling. My stomach is in knots.
  • Try: This discomfort is just my body preparing me to communicate clearly.

• When Facing an Uncertain Future
  
  • Instead of: I feel out of control, and that scares me.
  • Try: Uncertainty is uncomfortable, but it also means possibility.

Why This Works (The Neuroscience Behind It)

When your brain interprets anxiety as a threat, your stress response kicks in—raising cortisol, making you feel tense, and shutting down clear thinking. But when you reframe those same sensations as excitement, readiness, or focus, you trigger a different response: one that engages dopamine (motivation), improves cognitive function, and helps you take action.

This technique isn’t about eliminating anxiety—it’s about making it work for you instead of against you.

Final Thoughts

Your brain is always predicting what’s happening inside your body. If you let it default to fear, anxiety will feel overwhelming. But if you train it to see activation as a sign of energy, excitement, or preparation, you’ll gain control over your emotional state in a way that most people never realize is possible.

Next time anxiety shows up, ask yourself: What if this isn’t fear? What if this is just my body preparing me for something important?

Because most of the time—it is.