completely present, right this minute. In a state of acceptance, you are not resisting the thing that makes you anxious. You are not striving to change the situation. You simply allow yourself to exist, just as you are, and you allow the situation to exist, just the way it is.

Of course, accepting something doesn't mean that you have to like it or approve of it. And you can certainly take action in the future to ch

Anxiety is painful. If you're one of the many people who suffer from this condition, you know firsthand the truth of this statement. You may even be at the point where you'd do anything to get rid of panic attacks -- and it's no wonder. Uncontrollable anxiety and panic can stop you from being the person you want to be and keep you from enjoying all the pleasures that life has to offer.

The best way to get rid of panic attacks is to prevent them from starting in the first place. Anxiety doesn't come out of nowhere. In fact, the anxiety attack that you experience has its roots in the way you live and think from day to day.

Here's an easy exercise to help prevent an anxiety or panic attack before it arises. Pick a time when you have five minutes to yourself. Sit comfortably with your hands resting in your lap. Relax and breathe in deeply and gently for the count of five. Exhale slowly, easily, for the count of five. Repeat these long, gentle breaths 4-5 times. Concentrate on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body.

Next, bring to mind a situation that makes you somewhat anxious. Hold that thought lightly in your mind, and say to yourself, "I accept this as it is."

Now, just to be clear, the purpose of this exercise is not to make you anxious thinking about the situation that bothers you. Instead, the purpose is to consciously create and experience a feeling of relaxation and acceptance.

Let's look more closely at what this means. What does acceptance feel like? Acceptance is a peaceful condition, devoid of struggle, based in the here and now. When you are in a state of acceptance, you aren't thinking about the future or the past. You are completely present, right this minute. In a state of acceptance, you are not resisting the thing that makes you anxious. You are not striving to change the situation. You simply allow yourself to exist, just as you are, and you allow the situation to exist, just the way it is.

Of course, accepting something doesn't mean that you have to like it or approve of it. And you can certainly take action in the future to cha

attacks is to prevent them from starting in the first place. Anxiety doesn't come out of nowhere. In fact, the anxiety attack that you experience has its roots in the way you live and think from day to day.

Here's an easy exercise to help prevent an anxiety or panic attack before it arises. Pick a time when you have five minutes to yourself. Sit comfortably with your hands resting in your lap. Relax and breathe in deeply and gently for the count of five. Exhale slowly, easily, for the count of five. Repeat these long, gentle breaths 4-5 times. Concentrate on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body.

Next, bring to mind a situation that makes you somewhat anxious. Hold that thought lightly in your mind, and say to yourself, "I accept this as it is."

Now, just to be clear, the purpose of this exercise is not to make you anxious thinking about the situation that bothers you. Instead, the purpose is to consciously create and experience a feeling of relaxation and acceptance.

Let's look more closely at what this means. What does acceptance feel like? Acceptance is a peaceful condition, devoid of struggle, based in the here and now. When you are in a state of acceptance, you aren't thinking about the future or the past. You are completely present, right this minute. In a state of acceptance, you are not resisting the thing that makes you anxious. You are not striving to change the situation. You simply allow yourself to exist, just as you are, and you allow the situation to exist, just the way it is.

Of course, accepting something doesn't mean that you have to like it or approve of it. And you can certainly take action in the future to ch

ply and gently for the count of five. Exhale slowly, easily, for the count of five. Repeat these long, gentle breaths 4-5 times. Concentrate on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body.

Next, bring to mind a situation that makes you somewhat anxious. Hold that thought lightly in your mind, and say to yourself, "I accept this as it is."

Now, just to be clear, the purpose of this exercise is not to make you anxious thinking about the situation that bothers you. Instead, the purpose is to consciously create and experience a feeling of relaxation and acceptance.

Let's look more closely at what this means. What does acceptance feel like? Acceptance is a peaceful condition, devoid of struggle, based in the here and now. When you are in a state of acceptance, you aren't thinking about the future or the past. You are completely present, right this minute. In a state of acceptance, you are not resisting the thing that makes you anxious. You are not striving to change the situation. You simply allow yourself to exist, just as you are, and you allow the situation to exist, just the way it is.

Of course, accepting something doesn't mean that you have to like it or approve of it. And you can certainly take action in the future to ch

o make you anxious thinking about the situation that bothers you. Instead, the purpose is to consciously create and experience a feeling of relaxation and acceptance.

Let's look more closely at what this means. What does acceptance feel like? Acceptance is a peaceful condition, devoid of struggle, based in the here and now. When you are in a state of acceptance, you aren't thinking about the future or the past. You are completely present, right this minute. In a state of acceptance, you are not resisting the thing that makes you anxious. You are not striving to change the situation. You simply allow yourself to exist, just as you are, and you allow the situation to exist, just the way it is.

Of course, accepting something doesn't mean that you have to like it or approve of it. And you can certainly take action in the future to ch

completely present, right this minute. In a state of acceptance, you are not resisting the thing that makes you anxious. You are not striving to change the situation. You simply allow yourself to exist, just as you are, and you allow the situation to exist, just the way it is.

Of course, accepting something doesn't mean that you have to like it or approve of it. And you can certainly take action in the future to change the situation, if need be. Acceptance means that, just for right now, you do not struggle against the anxiety-producing situation. That's all.

Continue to hold the thought of the troublesome situation in your mind. Spend 1-2 minutes breathing deeply and repeating to yourself the statement of acceptance, "I accept this as it is." Then smile, get up, and go on with your day.

What does this process do for you? When you feel acceptance, you experience a powerful mental state of calm and focus. You cannot be extremely anxious and accepting at the same time. As you perform this technique, you are relieving the buildup of nervous tension in your body and your mind. You are teaching your brain and your body a new way to function. And the effect will carry over into your life, without your effort, even after you've finished the exercise.

It may take you a little while to get the hang of this. You may wonder, how can I feel acceptance about a frightening or disturbing situation? In that case, ask yourself, how would it feel - if - I could accept the situation for a moment? How would I feel - if - I felt calm, focused, and completely in the present? Then pretend you feel that way.

Use this technique several times a day. Do it in the morning and evening and during the day when you have a little spare time. The process will be quite enjoyable, because the feeling of relaxation and calm you experience is pleasant. It's also very healthy for your body and mind.

You don't have to be feeling anxious at the time you do the process (although you can certainly do it on those occasions). You can direct your acceptance to a different cause of anxiety each time, or focus