We all worry, right? Isn’t it just a part of life? Probably. But you can worry less.
It’s hard to think of a time when there wasn’t something, even if it was small, to worry about. Worry is something that everyone does at some point. Common, everyday concerns make us worry. Things we have to do make us worry. We worry about small things and we worry about big things. Worry seems to simply be a part of life for most of us. What about when worry becomes excessive? What about worry that seems to go beyond “normal?”
This kind of worry is often brought on by thinking in ways that focus on worst-case scenarios. The problem is, when we’re thinking them, we don’t see our thoughts as worst-case scenarios. We see them as reality. Often, if we can simply take a step back and take an outside look at what’s going on,we will worry a lot less. Consider these questions:
How important is it?
Many times we simply make the importance of the matter, whatever that might be, much larger than it really is. If things didn’t go exactly the way you would like, what is the real impact to your life? Will you care about it later? How about a week from now? Or a month? If something will not matter at a later time, it probably will not significantly impact our lives.
What is the real worst case scenario?
Granted, anything is possible. Not everything is probable. What is the worst thing that could happen, realistically? You may need to consult someone outside of the situation to test your “realism” in this. When we worry a lot, we tend to believe we’re simply being realistic or just “preparing well.” A lot of times, the things we are worried about go way beyond being realistic. It can be helpful to get another perspective.
You are more capable than you think and
things aren’t as out of control as they feel.
If the worst did happen, how would I cope with it?
The truth is, most things can be dealt with when we have a plan. That’s not to say it would be easy. However, it can be done. A plan to deal with the situation takes the energy of worrying and puts it toward action. You’re more capable than you think and things probably aren’t as out of control as they feel.
Is it within my control?
Someone once said, “85% of the things we worry about never happen.” There’s no way to do the math so there’s no way to verify this statistic. Yet, there are a lot of things we worry about that we simply cannot control. Again, we can cope with most things. If we can’t control the outcome, the best we can do is have an action plan and move on.
Worrying makes problems bigger as we fuel the problem by adding our energy to it. Shift the focus toward solutions and watch the problem shrink in size and importance. Once this happens, peace will replace the worry.
Feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance to you. You don’t have to suffer with worry and anxiety. We can help!