Anxiety Versus Wonder | Longmont Mental Health Therapist and Life Coach

Trying something new almost always stirs anxiety.

No matter the stage of life we find ourselves in, life inevitably provides us with amble opportunity for learning something new or starting over.

Recently, I caught my first fish.

Fishing had never really interested me before. But someone close to me shared their love of fly fishing—their stories stirred something in me. When the invitation came, I felt both curious and nervous. My first instinct was hesitation: What if I can’t do it? What if I look foolish?

The voice of anxiety often sounds something like this. It tells us to stay where it’s comfortable, where we know what we’re doing. But when we keep going, we sometimes find joy waiting underneath.

Standing in the river that day, holding a rod for the first time, my casting was awkward and movements completely uncoordinated. I was unmistakably a beginner.

And I was uncomfortable, but as I slowed down, I began noticing things I hadn’t before—the way water bends around rocks, the way fish react to light and sound, the quiet rhythm of the river. My anxious thoughts softened into curiosity. What started as self-doubt turned into a chance to experience something new—something beautiful.

If you’re facing something new, remember: anxiety is part of the process. It doesn’t mean stop—it means you’re on the edge of growth. And sometimes, just beyond that discomfort, there’s wonder.

Learning someting new can be frustrating.

But it can also open us to wonder.

What else might be waiting for you, just beyond the familiar?

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