We all know that worrying is bad for you. But most people don’t actively try to change their strangling habit of worrying. Strangling may sound a bit dramatic, but the word “worry” actually comes from an Old High German word, wurgen, which means to strangle! If you think about it, worrying can be compared to strangling yourself: it can destroy your body and your thought processes.
Worrying is also a form of fear. Some amount of fear may be beneficial—if it protects us rather than harms us. Early man feared things such as natural predators or rivals, and that fear gave them a heightened sense of awareness and a faster response to threats. But let’s face it, most of the worrying that’s going on in our lives will not benefit us. Worrying that the traffic is backed up will not help us. There is nothing that worrying will accomplish in that type of scenario.
If you are working on anything important in your life, excessive worry can cause you to lose your focus. Accomplishing any major goal requires excellent mental sharpness and focus. With that said, it’s time to nip the destructive worrying in the bud!
Here are Some Interesting Quotes About Worrying:
- You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. ~Pat Schroeder
- I’ve experienced many terrible things in my life, a few of which actually happened. ~ Mark Twain
- If you can’t sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It’s the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep. ~Dale Carnegie
- Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ~Leo Buscaglia
There are many methods that help relieve stress, to reduce our worrying. Of course, different methods may work better for different people. We must be aware of our stress. Awareness is key in beating this major battle taking place in our minds!
Let’s Talk About Some of the Worry-Busting Techniques Out there:
1. Improving your time management skills
2. Eliminating clutter
3. Taking action
4. Exercising
5. Having a great support group
6. Seeing the positive in the situation
Improving your time management skills can go a long way in reducing your stress. I know that when I wake up with no daily action plan, I worry about not getting things done. I feel guilty about not being more organized. When it is a work day, we especially need to keep a plan of action, or list, on hand. We can have it loosely organized if needed, but we need to at least have a rough outline with times penciled in.
Eliminating clutter will clear your mind. If your desk is full of old papers and clutter, you are not going to feel very organized. Clean off your desk, and clean out your home or office. Get rid of the clutter and enjoy a more minimalist type of style.
Taking action helps tremendously with eliminating worry. When I feel worrisome about failing in my business, I take action. It feels as though each small action reduces my amount of worry. Action helps you to become more self-confident, which helps to reduce the fear of failure.
Exercising metabolizes the stress hormones that are produced by your body when you worry too much! It physically reduces those excess hormones, which helps you to become calmer and more focused on the task at hand. Even small spurts of exercise can help you. If you have only 10 minutes to fit something in—go for it!
Having someone to confide in will help you tremendously as well. Establish a nice support group that wants to see you succeed in your endeavors. With that said, we also need to get away from toxic relationships. Focus more of your energy on those who are on your side.
keeping a positive mindset is key to overcoming your worries. See the glass as half-full, so to speak. When you are faced with major obstacles in your life, focus on how strong and wise you will be when you overcome those obstacles.
To sum it up, awareness is the most important component in reducing your destructive thoughts. Some people are not even aware that their racing thoughts are actually worries. Take action to protect your body and mind. Put some of these stress-reducing techniques into action. There are other helpful methods as well, such as meditating on positive ideas and feelings. Find out what works for you and actively change your thoughts.
