When we first use this unusual type of self-talk, it feels a bit odd or uncomfortable. But it’s worth practicing because it usually helps us unhook, at least a little. It’s obviously very different than everyday language, where we say things like, “I’m anxious.” That phrase makes it sound like I am the feeling. But if we say, “I’m noticing anxiety,” or “Here is anxiety,” or “Here is a feeling of anxiety,” we can “step back” a little and see this as an emotion passing through.
