It goes like this: I ask myself, what is on my mind? Often there is a feeling that instead of sitting or laying around meditating, I should be doing something productive - cleaning my house or trying to earn money. There are two ways to deal with the anxiety-producing thought. Either you suppress it (don't think it, think of something else), or tell yourself it is ok. The latter is hard to do convincingly.

If you don't convince yourself, the anxiety is still there. I often have to think through whole scenarios of what bad things might happen to me if I don't resolve the anxiety-producing problem. For me, there is no relief from the anxiety until I get to the thought that breathing and having thoughts are all I need to enjoy life.