Stop worrying!
It’s an interesting thing, worrying. Most of the things we worry about
never occur. In fact, some statistics say that as much as 90 per cent
of what we worry about will never happen. So why do we spend so much
time and energy on things we can’t change?
I do know that some people worry a lot more than others. I also think
that generally women worry more than men. While I can’t really explain
why we worry, I can give ways to ease the pain associated with worry.
I was a worrier for many years, but in the end I got exhausted from so
much worrying and now I don’t do it so much. Here are ten of my
favourite tips for overcoming worry:
1.Decide what is the very worst that can happen and think about what
this would mean for you. Is it really that bad? Are there any good things
that might come out of it?
2.Don’t hide from problems. Confront them head on, no matter how
uncomfortable this may be. The sooner you acknowledge the problem the sooner
it will be resolved.
3.Talk to people you trust. When we are really worried about something
we often feel very alone. Sharing it really does help, and all of a
sudden the clouds don’t look quite so dark and foreboding.
4.Get professional help. There is someone out there who can help to
resolve just about any issue you may have. It’s just a matter of tracking
them down. Don’t wait too long to get help.
5.If the issue is too much to deal with as a whole, see if you can
break it down into smaller parts that you can cope with.
6.Be open and honest with yourself and others—the more honest you are
the less there is to worry about.
7.Let go of ego. It is ego that makes you worry about what you might
lose and what other people will think of you, and it feeds the worry bug.
8.When you find yourself worrying about a situation, try to distance
yourself from it. Imagine if a friend came to you with the same issue:
what advice would you give them? Why is it different for you?
9.There are times to worry and times not to worry. Save your energy for
things that really matter—such as issues of life and death. Give
yourself a little reality check every once in a while.
10.Sometimes we worry incessantly about an issue for weeks, months and
even years. It’s often better to just make a decision. Right or wrong,
who cares? You can always make another decision down the track. Decide
so that you can move forward rather than remaining in a stalemate
situation.
I hope these tips will help you to overcome worry in the future.
Remember, if you’ve got a problem—front it.
What can I do today?
Stop worrying and start living. If you are worrying about something
right now, read through my list of ways to overcome worry and solve the
problem today.
