Navigating Anxiety: Embracing Your Emotions and Finding Peace

In a world where emotions often feel like burdens we must carry, Holly Hatam shares her journey of embracing anxiety as a messenger rather than an enemy in her life. With vulnerability and honesty, she opens up about her struggle with anxiety, starting from a tumultuous college experience to navigating the challenges of a global pandemic and her mother’s cancer diagnosis.

Through her story, Hatam highlights the importance of acknowledging and befriending our emotions, no matter how uncomfortable they may be. She shares how practices like mindfulness, meditation, and the STOP method by Jon Kabat-Zinn have helped her shift her relationship with anxiety, allowing her to find peace amidst the chaos.

As a 3X New York Times bestselling illustrator, known for her work on books like Dear Girl and Dear Boy, Hatam infuses her art with a passion for mental health awareness. Through her journey with anxiety, she has learned to be kinder to herself, to show self-compassion, and to embrace the imperfect parts of herself.

Ultimately, Hatam’s story serves as a reminder that our emotions, even the difficult ones, are a part of what makes us human. By accepting and understanding them, rather than trying to fight them, we can find a sense of peace and resilience in the midst of life’s challenges.