It's not your soul that gets crushed under the weight of everyday life but rather it's the spirit that suffers. Little things arise, nagging issues interrupt your routine and every now and again a monster issue rears its ugly head and demands your undivided attention. Each day your spirit takes a battering to the point that over time you find that with each hit, it takes just that little bit longer to recover and get going again. We all have different issues that demand our attention and gradually sap our energy and it's usually at this point that worry makes an appearance.
In recent months I've come to understand that my biggest worry is not anything material, it's not whether I'll be able to pay the bills, or find the time to deal with the usual family shenanigans or survive another day at work. Nope, it's none of those things. In short, it's not something I can physically touch or have evidence to prove its existence in any shape or form. My biggest worry is WORRY! A concept created by my mind! I'm actually redefining it as UNNCESSARRY WORRY. Unnecessary worry is fascinating. It is quite literally a self-made concept based on the thoughts in your head about situations in your life. It's usually about what MAY happen or what MIGHT happen but so very rarely is it about what's actually happening!
As humans we've been programmed to to accept fear and worry as normal. We choose to embrace the concept of worry and have a tendency to focus on everything that COULD happen because that's where our attention is. I don't know why but as we seem to spend most of lives ruled by fear, we need to understand the concept of worry is a favorite travelling partner of fear.
So why do we worry? I think maybe we're just trying to mentally prepare for every possible outcome.
Outcomes that haven't happened
Outcomes that are yet to exist
Outcomes which are yet to be played out
When faced with a situation, we should certainly plan for possible eventualities but should we worry? No we shouldn't.If you find your brain is consumed with a challenging situation and worry has made its presence know, try asking these questions:
- What can I possibly achieve by worrying?
- Will the issue go away if I worry?
- Will worrying help me deal with the issue?
Worrying over an issue or situation is far more likely to make it worse than better. Issues tend to either get worse or seem like they are worse the more attention you give them/ Remember energy flows where attention goes. If your facing a situation that's causing worrying try this.
1. What's the situation/issue? Analyse it objectively then take a step back
2. What are the possible solutions?
3. Can I do anything immediately to resolve this issue? NO? Then take another step back and refuse to worry about from this point on.
Have a little faith in yourself and you're ability to handle the issue WHEN IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS BUT NOT ONE SECOND SOONER. Think about the issue and consider what you COULD do but don't worry about it. You're simply wasting valuable energy when you worry because you have absolutely no control anyway. I'm not suggesting you forget the issue but rather not to worry about it. Worry doesn't make an issue disappear and neither does the lack of worry!
Worry itself is an illusion. Try to describe worry in a physical form - it can't be done because it only exists in the mind - you created the worry so therefore you can destroy it and no longer allow worry any power of you swallowing up the precious time you have.
- Spend time with my family or worry?
- Enjoy a nice dinner with my love or worry?
- Listen to favorite music and relax or worry?
- Play some games on the iPad or worry?
- Grab a coffee with friends or worry?
You get the picture. See worry for what it really is. A self-made, fear-based concept that only has as much power of you as you allow it.
When faced with worry, ask yourself one simple question
What would I rather be doing with my time?
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