Math that I can do!

So every Thursday, I go to a group therapy session called "Anxiety and Stress Management".  Each week, the therapist asks if there is anything that anyone wants to discuss that day (it's mostly the same people every week) and then we discuss 2 or 3 topics.  YESTERDAY, it was so good! We talked about dealing with unwanted thoughts, dealing with trust issues, and the one that hit me the hardest, was dealing with new/unfamiliar situations.

He talked about a math equation that works with dealing with new/unfamiliar situations.

Anxiety= Importance(The Unknown)

So he talked about how to get the level of anxiety to go down.  You can start by decreasing the level of the unknown.  So gain knowledge, research and talk to people.  You can also decrease the level importance.  Put it into perspective and realize that it isn't as important as it feels.  

I went up and talked to the therapist after and asked him how that applies to what has been scaring me.  I told him that I am going through the temple on December 19, and that it is scaring me a little. I told him that my concern was that 1.  I can't decrease the importance, because it is extremely important.  2. I can't decrease the unknown because there isn't much that I can know. 

So I asked him how I can decrease the anxiety and fear if I can't follow the equation.  He showed me how I can.  He talked about how people do secretly record the endowment ceremony.  So if I REALLY wanted to go find it that badly, could I? Yes.  But will I? No.  And why?  Because it will take away from my experience.  He asked me how my relationship is with my parents.  I told him it was good. He asked if I could trust them, and I said yes.  So he said that if I can trust my parents, and my older siblings, then that's all I need.  I can learn from them what I can, and then trust that the people that will be with me in the temple (so you guys :D) will take care of me and help me.  

It was so cool to have that discussion with him! I'm not terrified, but I'm a little worried.  I just don't like new situations.  But knowing that I will have family there that I trust, makes it so much better :)