"Most of us believe anxiety is something negative that needs to be reduced or eliminated entirely from our lives. But now, Robert Gerzon brings us the surprising new message that it is not always the villain we thought it was. In Finding Serenity in the Age of Anxiety, Gerzon reveals that anxiety - "the shadow cast by consciousness"--Is a natural, even sacred, part of being human. The key to serenity is getting anxiety to work for us instead of against us."--BOOK JACKET. "In a brilliant analysis, Gerzon unravels three distinct strands from anxiety's tangled knot and then shows us how to respond to each effectively: Toxic Anxiety, a dreaded and destructive overreaction that may result in unrealistic fear, worry, self-sabotage, and panic, can be transformed into self-awareness and growth. Natural Anxiety, the healthy arousal that warns us of actual dangers and alerts us to new opportunities, can be harnessed for peak performance. Sacred Anxiety, the spiritual aspect that represents our soul's deepest yearning for love, connection, and purpose in life, can be embraced to cultivate the spiritual strength needed for true serenity."--Jacket.