World-renowned neuroscientist and author of Healthy Brain, Happy Life has developed an “absolute game-changer” (Conscious Conversations podcast) for managing unwarranted anxiety and turning it into a powerful asset.
We are living in the age of anxiety, a situation that often makes us feel as if we are locked into an endless cycle of stress, sleeplessness, and worry. But what if we had a way to leverage our anxiety to help us solve problems and fortify our well-being? What if, instead of seeing anxiety as a curse, we could recognize it for the unique gift that it is?
As a neuroscientist, Dr. Wendy Suzuki has discovered a paradigm-shifting truth about anxiety: yes, it is uncomfortable, but it is also essential for our survival. In fact, anxiety is a key component of our ability to live optimally. Every emotion we experience has an evolutionary purpose, and anxiety is designed to draw our attention to a number of negative emotions. If we simply approach anxiety as something to avoid, get rid of, or dampen, we actually miss an opportunity to not only manage the symptoms of anxiety better but also discover ways to improve our lives. Listening to our worries from a place of curiosity, instead of fear, can actually guide us onto a path that leads to joy.
“Suzuki draws on decades of neuroscience, including her own research, and leavens her learning with a little personal storytelling to create a practical, science-backed guidebook for those seeking such a transformation” (The Wall Street Journal).
Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University and a celebrated international authority on neuroplasticity. She was recently named one of the ten women changing the way we see the world by Good Housekeeping and regularly serves as a sought-after expert for publications including The Wall Street Journal, Shape, and Health. Her TED talk has more than 55 million views across all major platforms and was the second most-viewed TED talk of 2018. She is the author of Good Anxiety and Healthy Brain, Happy Life.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part 1 The Science of Anxiety 11
Chapter 1 What Is Anxiety? 13
Chapter 2 Leveraging the Power of the Brain's Plasticity 27
Chapter 3 Coping with Anxiety in Real Life 41
Part 2 Learning How to Worry Well: Anxiety's Hidden Superpowers 55
Chapter 4 Supercharge Your Resilience 57
Chapter 5 Enhance Your Performance and Open the Door to Flow 79
Chapter 6 Nurture an Activist Mindset 99
Chapter 7 Amplify Your Focus and Productivity 127
Chapter 8 Prime Your Social Brain, Quell Your Social Anxiety, and Heighten Your Compassion 151
Chapter 9 Boost Your Creativity 171
Part 3 The Art of Worrying Well: Tools to Calm, Flip, and Channel Your Anxiety 193
