When Anxiety Has No Name, Try This One Simple Practice

Dear Voice of Chittan Readers

Namasthe!!

There are days when nothing is technically wrong, yet your heart feels heavy.

No one has criticized you.

No crisis has happened.

Nothing has gone terribly wrong.

Yet, there is an unexplained anxiety. A quiet restlessness. A feeling that something isn't right.

As working women, we carry many invisible responsibilities our careers, our families, our aspirations, and often, our own expectations. We are constantly planning, anticipating, solving, and worrying. Sometimes, the mind quietly slips into "What if?" mode, creating fears about things that haven't even happened.

Over time, I discovered something surprisingly simple that helps me during these moments.

I deliberately look for something good in another person.

Not because they need it.

Because I need it.

It may be a colleague who handled a meeting with grace.

A student who put sincere effort into learning.

A support staff member who works with quiet dedication.

A security guard who greets everyone with a smile.

Or even a stranger whose kindness catches my attention for a brief moment.

When I notice it, I appreciate them.

Sometimes I tell them directly.

Sometimes I send a message.

Sometimes it's just a genuine smile and a heartfelt "Well done."

Something beautiful happens.

The mind that was occupied with imaginary fears slowly shifts towards gratitude and goodness.

Instead of asking,

"What if something goes wrong?"

it gently begins asking,

"How many good people and good qualities exist around me?"

That small shift changes my emotional state.

The anxiety doesn't disappear like magic, but it loses its grip.

I've practiced this many times, and it has consistently helped me.

I have even appreciated people I barely know. Surprisingly, the joy I intended for them found its way back to me.

Perhaps this is because appreciation changes not only the person receiving it..it transforms the person giving it.

Our minds naturally pay more attention to problems than to blessings. When we consciously choose to notice goodness, we gently retrain our attention. We remind ourselves that the world is not made only of uncertainty. It is also filled with kindness, sincerity, resilience, dedication, and compassion.

My Two-Minute Appreciation Reset

Whenever I notice myself feeling anxious without a clear reason, I do this:

• Pause for a moment and take one slow, deep breath.

• Look around and find one genuine quality you admire in someone nearby.

• Appreciate it sincerely...through a word, a message, or even a silent acknowledgment.

• Then notice your own mind. Is it a little lighter? Is your breathing a little calmer?

For me, the answer is often yes.

A gentle reminder: appreciating the goodness in others does not mean ignoring unhealthy behavior or accepting disrespect. Healthy boundaries and genuine appreciation can coexist. We can recognize the light in people while still protecting our own peace.

This practice is also not a cure for anxiety disorders or persistent emotional distress. If anxiety is overwhelming or interfering with daily life, seeking professional support is both wise and courageous. What I am sharing is simply a practice that has helped me navigate those everyday moments of unexplained worry.

As working women, we often believe that calming ourselves requires finding answers to every problem.

Perhaps sometimes, it begins with something much simpler.

Notice goodness. Speak it aloud. Celebrate it.

You may discover that while you were trying to brighten someone else's day, you quietly healed a part of your own.

Sometimes, the quickest way to interrupt an anxious spiral is not by thinking harder about your fears, but by gently shifting your attention toward the goodness that already exists around you.

And perhaps that is one of life's beautiful paradoxes:

The appreciation we give away often becomes the peace we receive.

Have you ever noticed how your mood changes after genuinely appreciating someone? I'd love to hear your experience. Sometimes, the smallest habits create the biggest inner shifts.

With 💕 

Dr. Swetha Vishnuchittan