Are you a worrier? Do you come from a long line of worriers? Maybe overprotective parents and grandparents?
Here’s the good news: it’s not biological. There is no “worry” gene. What it is, instead, is a learned behavior. Nurture ousting nature.
Worrying is actually a socially acceptable way of saying you live in fear of what may happen in the future. Most likely, you also lack present moment consciousness.
Worrying is a form of anxiety, causing a host of stress-related physical and psychological problems.
But don’t worry, my nervous Nellies! There are some things you can do to stop the needless nervousness!
Two of my favorite tools, which help improve your present moment awareness, are:
1. Allot five minutes a day to worrying. If you find catastrophic thoughts creeping up at another time, remind yourself you cannot think about these until your designated worry time. Go back to focusing on what is happening RIGHT NOW. (When you get to your worry time, are you even able to remember what it was you were worrying about earlier? Most likely not.)
2. Take your worry down the “Then What” highway. Imagine the event you are concerned about actually happening, then ask yourself, “then what.” From that point, ask “then what.” Keeping going until you have reached the end of the road. When that highway dead-ends, you will see that the fear is much bigger in your mind than what could actually happen. This exercise gives you a realistic perspective. It also gives you the opportunity to see how much time you wasted worrying about what MIGHT happen rather than spending your valuable time on what is ACTUALLY happening.
Allow yourself to step out of fear and into freedom. The only moment you are guaranteed is the one that is happening right now. When you project into the future, and a dismal one at that, you miss your life as it is happening AND draw the perception-turned-reality of misery toward you as you resonate on that energetic frequency.
I have been through many traumatic and scary experiences in my life, from cancer to raising teenage sons. Worrying about them would not have changed how I handled them; it would only have robbed me of moments that I would not get back.
Worrying and preparing are two different things, so do not confuse the two. I am not saying be unprepared; I am only suggesting that nothing productive comes from worrying.
Let’s get honest and share. Are you an excessive worrier? What triggers your worry muscle? What tools have you discovered to yank you out of future tripping and back to the here and now?
I hope you have an amazing, worry-free week, and, as always, take care of you.
Love love love
Terri
Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, transformation coach, and an expert at turning fear into freedom. Sign up for Terri’s weekly Tune Up Tips and follow her on Twitter.
*Photo by spaceodissey.