Let me give you this idea of change in another perspective,

First I have to point out today, we live in instant satisfaction culture, I want to be rewarded right now and I don't want to wait.

Alright with that said, you say you experience stress and feel anxious. But do you not think that if you keep at it that the volume of those feelings would eventually get turned down?

Think of it like body building, do you not gain strength as you work out?

Think of it like learning a new instrument, does your playing not get better through practice.

The only time I would say it's okay to embrace yourself is if your dealing with a situation that's out of your control. An example like this is your sick, or you are injured.

Now with the idea I presented, do not think you have make a huge change overnight, there's no such thing, rome wasn't built in a day. You just have to take a little effort.