Yogi: One day I was running late for meal and anxiety arose. I would usually respond in 3 ways:

1. Tell myself ‘You have to accept; you’re here right now and you will get to the line when you get to the line’.
2. Is this anxiety beneficial?
3. Watch the process with awareness

Sayadaw: The third is the best because when you try to be aware of the process, naturally you’ll learn something and then you’ll have the answer to the first 2 questions.

If you’re thinking, you’re not trying to learn from the experience. If you’re trying to solve the anxiety problem by thinking, it is only intellectual understanding, not understanding it experientially. It is better to watch the process; then the answer to ‘should or should not’ would come naturally.

That’s better; no need to think too much.