This could be a headline for me. I’m a chronic worrier. I worry about everything. I’ve been working on letting go of worrying but i’m a work in progress. I listened to a podcast episode this morning about stress. It discussed some of the psychological impacts it has on us mentally and physically. I’m also reading a book on “How to Stop Worrying and Start living” by DAle Carnegie. I started laughing to myself because it seems that I have yet to break my worrying habit. Which it turns out might be stressing me out….go figure.
As stated, I’m a chronic worrier. Worried about what might happen if I do this or that. Worried about things that MIGHT happen, haven’t yet, but might. All of this stresses me out. What kind of vicious hellacious circle is that? A miserable one that’s hard to break.
Three things lately I’ve been trying to manage better: fear, stress, and worry. How entertaining that those poped up on my available episodes today and happen to be in the little bit that I got to read. Thanks for the reality check GOD!
THe podcast was first and talked about fear which is something that we ourselves manifest in our mind. Different for everyone. Different types of fear affect us in different ways but I won’t get into that. Fear usually leads me to worry. And since I worry a lot, that’s a problem. My lastest practice has been using the adrenaline that fear gives me and working through it so that I can stop fearing things, or at least work through those and onto the next.
As it turns out for me, my fear leads to worry. Worry about what i’ll come off to people. How i’ll feel about the end result of whatever i’m doing. As I read this book, it gave three simple steps for getting over worry. I’ve heard them before but always a good reminder and maybe this is when I needed to hear it:
1. Ask yourself what is the worst that could possibly happen as result of this action
2. Prepare to accept should you need to
3. Calmly proceed to improve on the worst
Now some may say, yeah duh. But do you practice this or just verbalize that its obvious? As Brendon Burchard says a lot on his podcast, “It may be common knowledge, but its not very common practice.”
When we think of the worst possible thing that could happen, we verbalize it and confront that worst case scenario. I’m not sure about anyone else but when I verbalize worst case things, they tend to not sound quite as bad. I also start to process how to better find a solution. Second, when we accept (verbalizing helps) the worst case, we tend to gain a sense of freedom. Then third, work through a way to improve on what that worst case scenario is.
With enough practice and action, this could totally break me free of that circle of fear and worry. Maybe my stress would subside at that point. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I’m stressed, my body does all sorts of crappy things physicals. I tense up, and tighten up everywhere. My back starts to hurt and I start to loose sleep. If that isn’t a formula of feeling like crap, right?!
These steps could be applied to anything. Not to say the worst case is a good result. But at least you acknowledge what that is and can prepare yourself and start to work past to a solution should you even need it.
If you are anything like me and your fears have gotten the best of you for a long time, which leads to worry and stress, try these steps with me. Its not the first time I’ve heard the principle, but its the first time is resonated with me.