I read Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight years ago and have never forgotten it. In this book, a brain scientist describes the stroke that affected her brain, thinking, and emotions. I still think “step to the right”—a phrase Taylor repeats frequently, describing the feelings of wellbeing that come from turning down the brain chatter of our left brains.
“But this book isn’t about anxiety at all,” you might be saying to yourself. “I thought these books were supposed to help with anxiety.” I would argue that James Clear’s book Atomic Habits is a great book for people who are feeling anxiety in their bodies. It helped me understand how to spot and support healthy habit-building in myself, which in turn positively affects mental health. This is one pillar of cognitive behavioral therapy, and the more you can tune into the actions that make up your day, the easier it will be to start changing your feelings for the better.
