--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're feeling stressed or anxious and…" description: "\"If you're feeling stressed or anxious and you don't know why, ask yourself: What little thing led me here? Recently, I canceled on a friend because I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png" --- # If you're feeling stressed or anxious and you don't know… ![“If you're feeling stressed or anxious and you don't know why, ask yourself: What little thing led me here? Recently, I canceled on a friend because I was tired. I went to bed feeling stressed out, and I realized, I feel bad because I canceled.” quote by Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png) > “If you're feeling stressed or anxious and you don't know why, ask yourself: What little thing led me here? Recently, I canceled on a friend because I was tired. I went to bed feeling stressed out, and I realized, I feel bad because I canceled.” [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identify tiny triggers behind stress to understand and alleviate anxiety. **In simple terms:** Small causes create big stress. Key Takeaway Trace back to the root cause. Themes stress anxiety self‑inquiry mindfulness Mood calm inquisitive Type self‑help mental‑health When to use this quote - therapy sessions - journaling - mindful breathing - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive therapy emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What minor event sparked your anxiety? - How can you prevent similar triggers? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Ask yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Canceled Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canceled-friend-4832373/) [Feeling Stressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-stressed/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Stressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressed/) [Stressed out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressed-out/) [Stressed Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressed-realized-4832372/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) ## Related quotes > [If I've had a bad day, if I'm feeling stressed out, if I'm feeling overwhelmed - it takes it all away. It's my antidote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/if-i-ve-had-a-bad-day-if-i-m-feeling-stressed-out-if-i-m-feeling/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [Organise your working life. If your work day often leaves you feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it is time to calm things down by getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/organise-your-working-life-if-your-work-day-often-leaves-you-feeling/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [When I start getting embroiled in heated debates and feeling stressed, I just turn everything off and disconnect from the world. I simply tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-wadhwa/when-i-start-getting-embroiled-in-heated-debates-and-feeling-stressed/) [Vivek Wadhwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-wadhwa/) > [Be yourself! You cant please everyone. They own their thoughts, reactions, and beliefs. So instead of feeling stressed and frustrated, just be yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-yourself-you-cant-please-everyone-they-own-their-thoughts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Continuous Partial Attention involves an artificial sense of constant crisis, of living in a 24/7, always-on world. It contributes to feeling stressed, overwhelmed, overstimulated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/continuous-partial-attention-involves-an-artificial-sense-of-constant/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Instead of feeling stressed, why don't you consider yourself blessed...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-r-aquino/instead-of-feeling-stressed-why-don-t-you-consider-yourself-blessed/) [Leonora R Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-r-aquino/) > [People don't behave in angry ways unless they are feeling stressed and conflicted too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/people-don-t-behave-in-angry-ways-unless-they-are-feeling-stressed/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [When I'm feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, sometimes I'll read a book. But most of the time, I will either listen to music or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-lynch/when-i-m-feeling-stressed-out-and-overwhelmed-sometimes-i-ll-read-a/) [Ross Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-lynch/) > [Christmas is more stressful with present buying and making sure everyone gets included, but Thanksgiving is really not that. I don't ever really get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lee/christmas-is-more-stressful-with-present-buying-and-making-sure/) [Sandra Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lee/) > [Being patient ... and not becoming too stressed out over the big plays, those are the things to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/being-patient-and-not-becoming-too-stressed-out-over-the-big-plays/) [Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/) > [There are plenty of brilliant people who are too stressed out to read challenging literary novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burdett/there-are-plenty-of-brilliant-people-who-are-too-stressed-out-to-read/) [John Burdett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burdett/) > [I am concerned that Millennials are stressed out. They have a higher suicide rate than other generations at their same age. They have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-espinoza/i-am-concerned-that-millennials-are-stressed-out-they-have-a-higher/) [Chip Espinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-espinoza/) > [Whenever you are stressed,eat chocolates,sweets etc, because when stressed is spelled backwards it becomes DESSERTS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-kennedy/whenever-you-are-stressed-eat-chocolates-sweets-etc-because-when/) [Scot Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-kennedy/) > [They wanna hang us, see us dead, or enslave us, keep us trapped in the same place we raised in. Then they wonder why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/they-wanna-hang-us-see-us-dead-or-enslave-us-keep-us-trapped-in-the/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [When I get stressed out my de-stress default is - not cat videos - but I just watch his surrogates. They're so entertaining. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/when-i-get-stressed-out-my-de-stress-default-is-not-cat-videos-but-i/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) ## More by Gabrielle Bernstein > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [You'll realize the transformation is not for you alone. You'll learn that you're here to use this gift to shine light on the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/you-ll-realize-the-transformation-is-not-for-you-alone-you-ll-learn/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Stress is actually the number one thing that blocks people from their happiness and well-being and from getting what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/stress-is-actually-the-number-one-thing-that-blocks-people-from-their/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [The practice of being on a spiritual path isn't about being the best meditator or the kindest possible person or the most enlightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/the-practice-of-being-on-a-spiritual-path-isn-t-about-being-the-best/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I've worked very hard to transform my fearful delusions into loving beliefs, and I am committed to maintaining this way of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-ve-worked-very-hard-to-transform-my-fearful-delusions-into-loving/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [“Love can seem far scarier to us than fear. We’re terrified to let love in, because we fear that when we do, we’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/love-can-seem-far-scarier-to-us-than-fear-we-re-terrified-to-let-love/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I think religion is a gateway for spiritual awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-think-religion-is-a-gateway-for-spiritual-awakening/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [The key to serenity is trusting that the universe has your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/the-key-to-serenity-is-trusting-that-the-universe-has-your-back/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [The issue is that if you hold onto the resentment against yourself, you're just going to recreate that destructive pattern in different forms because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/the-issue-is-that-if-you-hold-onto-the-resentment-against-yourself/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I started my entrepreneurial journey right out of college. At the age of 21, I incorporated my first business: a PR firm based in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-started-my-entrepreneurial-journey-right-out-of-college-at-the-age/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [You can write a thousand lists and make a million vision boards, but if you don't clearly feel what you want to experience, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/you-can-write-a-thousand-lists-and-make-a-million-vision-boards-but/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I let go of my need to control and allow the Universe to do her thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-let-go-of-my-need-to-control-and-allow-the-universe-to-do-her-thing/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [I learned that real happiness doesn’t come from getting but from giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-learned-that-real-happiness-doesn-t-come-from-getting-but-from/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Inside we are all Golden Buddha's, but we grew to believe we were made of clay. Our ego's false perceptions led us to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/inside-we-are-all-golden-buddha-s-but-we-grew-to-believe-we-were-made/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Fear and stress - one creates the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/fear-and-stress-one-creates-the-other/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) [Explore all 193 Gabrielle Bernstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) ## More Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/according-to-shakyamuni-buddha-it-s-normal-for-human-beings-to-be/) [Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [There were times when depression, anxiety, whatever, would keep me from writing. I still get depressed and anxious, but I just don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-st-john/there-were-times-when-depression-anxiety-whatever-would-keep-me-from/) [David St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-st-john/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I'm a very anxious, nervy kind of loser in many ways, and I get very stressed and a little tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-weeks/i-m-a-very-anxious-nervy-kind-of-loser-in-many-ways-and-i-get-very/) [Ed Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-weeks/) > [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-anxious-to-be-the-loudest-voice-or-the-most-popular-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You simply can't be tentative in a startup. You have to go for it at every chance you get. And if the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/you-simply-can-t-be-tentative-in-a-startup-you-have-to-go-for-it-at/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [I don't understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-don-t-understand-why-gay-people-are-so-anxious-to-get-married/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) [Browse all 1,159 Anxious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're feeling stressed or anxious and you don't know why, ask yourself: What little thing led me here? Recently, I canceled on a friend because I was tired. I went to bed feeling stressed out, and I realized, I feel bad because I canceled.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gabrielle Bernstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-and-you-don-t-know-why-ask/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-and-you-don-t-know-why-ask/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_anxious_if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-an_3011616.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're feeling stressed or anxious and you don't know why, ask yourself: What little thing led me here?…” — Gabrielle Bernstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gabrielle Bernstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're feeling stressed or anxious...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-and-you-don-t-know-why-ask/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/if-you-re-feeling-stressed-or-anxious-and-you-don-t-know-why-ask/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```