Effective Strategies on How to Stop Worrying
Patricia K. Flanigan, Ed.D.
Smart Strategies for Successful Living: Your Online Resource for a Happier and Healthier Lifestyle
In our day-to-day lives, we frequently face tense bouts of worrying triggered by a range of factors such as work demands, family dynamics, financial insecurities, and health issues. The constant stream of concerns can significantly impact our mental health. But what if we could find ways to manage our worries and focus more on the brighter facets of life?
Let's delve into discovering creative ways to worry less and enjoy life more!
Understand what it means to worry:
Just think about it. How many times have you worried about something that never happened? For the most part, your worries are not much more than the monsters you have created in your mind. You will find that being worried won’t make your problems go away or even prevent them from happening. In fact, the stress and strain of worrying can have a negative outcome on your response to effectively dealing with your problems.
Gain perspective and control:
When you worry, you can easily get lost in the exaggerations of your fears. To find clarity, take a step back and view the situation from a different perspective. A good technique is to imagine yourself standing on a balcony and looking down on your worry-induced situation. From this perspective, honestly describe your worry in terms of fact or fiction and assess its validity in terms of your level of control and the worst-case scenario.
Engage in problem solving:
Worrying and problem solving are two very distinct thought processes. When you worry, you are immersed in chaotic thoughts that tend to disrupt your ability to think clearly and discover viable solutions. When you are problem solving, you are actively focused on the situation and how best to resolve it within your scope of control and options available to you. Your objective is to be proactive and to determine the best course of action for a successful outcome. To accomplish this, you must have a worry-free, clarity of mind.
Say “no” to nagging thoughts:
During mentally vulnerable moments such as when you’re exhausted before bed, it is very easy to let your nagging thoughts turn into major worries. When this starts to happen, don’t become victim to your worries. Tell yourself… “no” as the quickest and easiest way to shut down your negative thoughts. Give yourself a time out to think about more positive experiences. And, understand that you can always come back to your problems at a time when you are less vulnerable and more able to deal with them.
Spend more time in the present:
Stay focused on the present and avoid rehashing your past mistakes or thinking about the unknown of the future. When you are mindful and stay current in the moment, you will diminish your need to obsess over situations that are ultimately beyond your scope of control – namely the past and the future.
Open up to trusted people about your worries:
A positive way to lessen the power of your worries is to share them with a trusted person. Just venting to a friend can make it so much easier to gain clarity and to see your worry for what it really is. The right person will be able to ground you and to give you a more practical and realistic perspective to your issue at hand. If you can identify and freely consult with a few confidants, you will find that your worries will often appear to be less big or important than originally thought.
Learn to live with uncertainty:
In addition to being in constant flux, life can be unpredictable. Without some type of crystal ball or sixth sense, it will be impossible for you to gauge every direction your life will take you. Learn to live with that reality and embrace ambiguity. Once you do, life will be much more tolerable and worry free.
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Turn to the positive:
Instead of dwelling on the negative, try to focus on the positive aspects of your life. This can help shift your perspective and redirect your thoughts towards more uplifting and hopeful ones. Practice gratitude and actively seek out moments of joy and happiness in your everyday life. By doing so, you'll be able to appreciate the present moment and find a sense of peace amidst any worries or uncertainties.
View our motivational video on how to live your today for a brighter tomorrow:
**Article Originally Published at: CLICK HERE.
Written by: Patricia K. Flanigan, Smart Strategies for Successful Living
Patricia K. Flanigan is a vibrant and passionate advocate for quality living and aging. She has dedicated over 28 years to working in higher education, but now enjoys a more peaceful lifestyle as the founding director and writer of Smart Strategies for Successful Living. In her free-time, she cherishes spending quality time with her family and friends, as well as getting out into nature with her beloved Samoyed dog, Wylie. Patricia loves helping others age gracefully and shares her wisdom through her content to promote the ultimate success in living.
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