How to Transform Worry Into Purposeful Action: A Breathwork Approach to Easing Anxiety

How to Transform Worry Into Purposeful Action: A Breathwork Approach to Easing Anxiety

We have so many reasons to worry.

If you’re anything like me, you may have worn the label of “worrier” for most of your life. Remember those tiny little woven dolls called, "worry dolls"? I had a whole collection of them as a little girl and would put them under my pillow at night, one by one holding the weight of each of my worries. Unfortunately this ritual only provided temporary relief to help me sleep at night until I eventually grew up and lost my worry doll collection. I used to believe it was just part of who I was until I realized how much time I spent frozen in that energy, stuck in a nervous system freeze state, unable to move forward.

At its worst, worry can feel paralyzing.

We can trace it back to childhood trauma, label it as anxiety, or fuel it with worst-case scenarios. But the truth is: worry is not the enemy. It’s a signal.

And when I started listening to that signal through breathwork and stillness, everything changed.

Worry Is Proof That You Care

From an energetic perspective, worry is simply your body shining a light on the things you care deeply about.
It’s your soul whispering: “This matters to me.”

So the key is to listen, and then reframe. What is it that you really care about underneath the worry? What’s driving the fear?

Personally, when I found out I was at high risk for cancer, every doctor’s appointment became a source of anxiety. But beneath that fear was something more meaningful: a deep love for life. A desire to live fully. To be here for my children. To make my time on Earth count.

Instead of spiraling, I made a conscious choice to become present with the people I love and to send love to my body every single day. That is what I could control.

Breathwork Teaches You to Release the Outcome

In breathwork, we release the need to control outcomes—over and over again.

I begin every session by reminding people of this. We practice presence, because worry cannot exist in the same space as the present moment.

We let go of what we cannot change, and we reconnect to what we can: our breath, our body, our energy. Over time, this practice retrains your nervous system to respond with trust instead of fear. We ground into the present moment to extract truth.

How Worry Can Disempower the People You Love

Here’s something that truly shifted my perspective: Worry can actually disempower the very people we’re trying to protect.

As a mom, I’ve worried plenty about my children—especially my daughter when she moved out at 18. It felt natural. She’s young. What if something happens? But I realized my constant worrying wasn’t love—it was a projection of doubt. She had proven time and again that she was capable. And every time I worried, I unintentionally undermined that truth.

Instead, I shifted my energy:

• I mailed her care packages.

• I planned our next visit.

• I journaled through my emotions.

• I repainted her room to create a comforting space when she returned.

I turned fear into action. And that made all the difference.

Don't Bypass the Feelings—Process Them Intentionally

Let me be clear: this isn’t about bypassing your emotions.

Worry is a real and valid part of the human experience. But if you don’t give yourself space to process it, it festers. That’s why I always come back to three tools: Breathwork. Meditation. Journaling.

These tools create space for intentional action rather than reactive spiraling. They also help you see how your obstacles may be shaping your purpose.

And when you approach life from that lens, there’s actually very little to worry about because everything is unfolding for your highest good.

Believe in Something Greater Than You

Finally, faith has helped me soften the edges of fear.

In The Awakened Brain, Dr. Lisa Miller presents powerful research showing how belief in a higher power directly correlates with reduced anxiety and depression.
Spiritual connection matters.
It helps us release the illusion of control and root ourselves in something more stable than our fears.

What you can do today~

Worry doesn’t make you weak. It means you care.
But with the right tools—like breathwork, presence, and perspective—it doesn’t have to control your life.

If you’re ready to reframe your relationship with worry, strengthen your nervous system, and reconnect with your deeper purpose, I’d love to support you. My coaching programs are designed to help women like you shift from fear to flow—through breath, mindset, and embodiment.

👉www.iamjessicamarie.com