Two weeks ago was hell week. Within that week, I had a lot of anxiety and stress, especially right before the shows began.

With previous shows, I would just let myself feel nervous and my whole body would basically be shaking with anxiety. I never knew how to really deal with it other than just letting my anxiety be. I would feel anxious the whole show.

However, before the first show, I went into the hallway to see if anyone else was in the dressing room because we were about to get into places. I saw one of my cast mates sitting in the hall. I asked her if she was okay and she said yes.

She said she just likes to sit in a quiet spot and think before the shows because she gets anxious, too. At that moment, I was like, "Wow, I never thought of just meditating to get rid of my anxiety".

I mean, I have heard of meditation helping anxiety, but I never really gave it a shot because I thought I was doing it wrong.

Before that week, I meditated every once and a while when I was sad or anxious and it kind of helped. However, I've never truly appreciated the effect it had until hell week.

Ever since opening night, before each show, when I got anxious as heck, I would go out into the hallway and meditate. I would just sit there in the quiet and think.

With doing that for a few minutes, I was all good to go. All those shaky, nervous feelings went away.

I never really thought I knew how to properly meditate without a meditation track playing on YouTube before that week. But ever since then, whenever I feel anxious, I sit and meditate.

I find a quiet spot, no matter where I am, and just sit there for a few minutes. I think and let all my anxiety wash away.

I learned that the secret to meditation is just being in the moment and letting your mind wander wherever it wants or needs to go. Your thoughts will guide you to feeling better.

Hell week taught me a lot of different things, but the most important thing I learned was how much meditation really helps when you're anxious.