Worry-Free - part II

Worry-Free

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stop-worrying-anxiety-cycle_n_4002914

Yesterday I started a three-day series on worrying.  Let’s see what the linked article has to say today

#4 Accept the worry and move on

Yes, there could be a problem, but spending most of your waking hours worrying about it does solve the problem.  

The article says:  “Worrying about worrying is a dangerous cycle to fall in

Therefore, people who get caught up in worry when they try to force themselves to stop worrying may want to try a different strategy — acceptance.”

Let’s take some examples.  “We will not have enough money by the end of the year to pay our taxes.”  That sounds dire.  Sure, it depends on the circumstances.  Did a colossal situation occur? Did you lose your job?  Did your business fail?  Fretting about the situation isn’t going to change it.  What solutions might there be?  Talk to the tax people about making a payment plan?  Sell your house (even at a loss) and move on?  Seek counseling (there are good financial counseling options available)? 

I recently read about a quasi-governmental organization that missed its budget and will have to lay people off.  This is not a good time of the year to get laid off with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's coming up.  Hey, it happened.  Can you do anything about it - other than worry?  Move on, accept the situation and find a new position.

#5 Write your worries down

Take a piece of paper and write those worries down.  If you are tempted to think about them, you can point at them and said, ‘Yes, I am aware of my problems’.

One research study from the University of Chicago talking about student’s fears and worried about exams said, “Letting all your emotions out on paper before a big exam could help decrease test-taking worry. It might be counterintuitive, but it’s almost as if you empty the fears out of your mind,”

#6 Cut yourself some slack

If you could look behind the scenes in almost every person’s life, you could find something to worry about.  It might be a relative with cancer; or your employment situation; or some other problem.  Might Bill Gates or Warren Buffet have problems?  Sure - they have money - but there could be other issues.  Warren Buffet is 89 years old.  Maybe he is in excellent health, but it might be that his wife, brothers, sisters, others are not in such great health.

Matthew 6:27 says: “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

We will finish this tomorrow.  Now stop worrying about how much food to prepare for Thanksgiving - relax and enjoy that great holiday of gratitude!!!

Hugs!!

Karen