Need To Stop Worrying?

I once worked with a woman whose zest,joy and enthusiasm lit up the room [and it was a big office!]

I remarked that it was lovely that she was always such uplifting company.

"Oh,I wasn't always like this", she replied. "It all changed when my dad died, when I was about forty."

"Was he that bad?" I asked her.

"On the contray," she told me "he was wonderful." However, just before he died he made a confession:

"Darling, I have ruined my life with worry. And not one thing I've worried about has ever happened! Don't let the same thing happen to you!"

Something "clicked" within her. And she kicked her worry habit from then on!

If you need something to 'click' to stop you worrying I hope the following helps:

Often when a worry 'pops in' the normal reaction is to try and solve it. This is fine if there is something tangible that can be done right now. However, many worries are either entirely imaginary, or a small 'problem' is blown out of all proportion.

So what happens is that you try to 'solve' what doesn't exist. The more you try and solve it the worse the 'problem' gets.

A wise old woman once said to me "Why are you worrying what you're going to say to so and so a week on Monday? You'll be there, you'll know!"

Lets take an imaginary, but common, example:

Miss Anxious starts worrying that she may lose her job. She tries to solve this imaginary 'problem' by looking for a new job. But if she can't get another one, she'll have to sell the house. And if it doesn't sell and she can't afford the mortgage payements....and so on, until she's pushing a shopping cart, containing all her belongings, around the streets...

In reality Miss Anxious is lying on a lovely beach 'enjoying' a well earned break from a hectic career!

By the way, her boss finds her invaluable.

A very effective way to 'solve' this sort of imaginary worrying is to let the thought be there, but not trying to 'solve' it.

This may sound simple, but it's very powerful. It's common to get worries popping into our minds. They are often nothing, just bits of nonsense. Not worth our attention. Trying to push them away or solve them can make them into monsters.

Just let them be, until they leave on their own. And they will. If another 'worry' takes its place, treat it in the same way.

Miss Anxious has just read this and now she's enjoying her well earned holiday. Somewhere there's a slightly worrying thought at the edge of her mind. But she's giving most of her attention to the wonderful present moment.

Enjoy your present moment, be in the now, and everything will take care of itself.

Janet trained as a stress management consultant. She owns the website http://www.womens-natural-health.com where you'll find lots of free tips for enhancing your health and happiness.

---

Seven Steps to Reducing Stress and Reclaiming Your Life at Work

According to the StressPulse survey by ComPsych Corporation completed at... Read More

Managing Stress

Do you ever feel stressed? Is stress a regular component... Read More

Stress & Self Esteem: Raising One by Lowering the Other

In our article about Exercise & Stress, we looked at... Read More

Quick Steps On Handling Stress

Looking for some quick stress relief?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More

Stress Management: How to Avoid the Ruts and Holes of Life

Have you ever noticed how we keep falling into the... Read More

The Case Of The Missing Vacation

This is the time for daydreaming about your annual vacation.... Read More

The Best Medicine For Stress ( A Daily Dose Of Gratitude)

There is one sure fire medicine that cures all difficulty... Read More

It is Looking Up for Stress Relief

No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More

Stress Managment: 12 Universal Laws for Managing Anger

1. The Law of EveryoneIt is not neccessarily wrong to... Read More

Common SENSS Stress Control

Statistics show that all of us experience stress at one... Read More

Through Stress Comes Kindness

In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More

5 Easy Ways to Pamper Yourself

Life is so busy and as mothers we spend so... Read More

Stress Busting Strategies

Learn to have healthy relationships:This subject could fill an entire... Read More

How to Say No and Let Go of Stress

It was one of the first words you learned to... Read More

Life Happens

Shit happens. I know this to be a fact, because... Read More

Dont Be a Worry Wort!

Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More

Six Questions To Make Your Workplace Stress-Free

Many CEOs see stress as an intractable problem which would... Read More

10 Ways to Enjoy Your Stress More

1. The Mentor Method: think of your favorite person. Someone... Read More

How to Recognize Stress Before it Turns Into Anger

After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled... Read More

Stress Mangement and Mastery: How to Defeat Sunday Night Syndrome

Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More

Reduce Stress and Increase Energy with Your Point of View!

Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More

Easy Elimination Of Worry & Stress!

It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to... Read More

Stress Management and Mastery: Watch Your Language

"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More

Stress Free COBRA

If you have recently lost health insurance coverage through your... Read More

Stress Management: Holding On Vs. Dropping It

One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More

Can You Say Yes To Less Stress

A little stress is good for us until it becomes... Read More

How To Reduce Stress and Ease Worries in Just 3 Minutes

Meditation, relaxation and visualisation are the standard recommendations for reducing... Read More

Balancing Acts: Keeping Work and Life in Equilibrium

In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More

Are YOU Controlling Stress So Stress Does Not Control YOU?

Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More

Anger Management Practice: The Gift of Forgiveness

This anger management Practice draws on the dual wisdom of... Read More

Create Reserves for a Stress Free Life

One of the ways I have avoided a lot of... Read More

The Sixty Second Stress Solution

It is an inescapable fact, we live in a stressful... Read More

The Scoop on Stress and Exercise

Stress is defined as a response by your body to... Read More