At times, we all have things going on in our minds. There can be the
little worries of having to go to the shop because there’s no food in
the cupboards, to the big worries like being severely in debt or having a
family member in hospital.
The “problem” with worrying is that it can have serious implications
on our physical and mental health. People who have previously been in
top shape can let one problem get to them so badly that they start
having panic attacks or have their problems incessantly on their mind.
I should know, I’ve had times in my life where I have let my problems
literally take over my thought patterns and consume me at all times.
Yet, with the four simple steps today, it’s actually fairly simple to
literally eliminate unnecessary worrying from your life.
After this, I also believe that life will start to feel a lot lighter, as if a heavy burden has been lifted from your shoulders.
1. Consider the Worst Possible Outcome
A few years ago one of my friends confided in me that he wasn’t sure
whether he wanted to continue playing for the school football team that
we were on. At the next training session when he didn’t show up, the
coach asked me what was wrong, and I told him that my friend might have
lost his passion and I wasn’t sure if he would be back.
A couple of days later my friend came back to me and said how he
really wanted to start playing again, and had merely been going through a
rough time when he told me what he did. I instantly remembered how I
had told the coach my friend might not want to play anymore, and started
worrying about the possible outcome.
Thoughts ran through my head such as “Would the coach pick him for
the next game?”, “Would the coach tell him what I said?”, “Would he be
dropped from the team?” and so on. I let this situation really get to me
and the possible outcomes really consumed my thoughts.
About a week later I built up the courage to tell the coach I might
have been wrong about my friend and the coach gave me a very nonchalant
reply “Oh it’s fine, I had forgotten about it anyway”. Instead of
worrying for a week, I could have looked at the worst possible outcome –
probably that the coach would tell my friend and I would have to
explain things – and then just taken action.
The worst that could have happened is rarely that bad when we really
look at things, so I advise you to do this with all of the things you
are worrying about. Look at the worst possible outcome, and then work to
improve on that as best you can.
2. Keep Yourself Busy
The reason that we love Television so much is that it literally
absorbs us into what is going on. When we are watching the black box we
forget about everything else for a while and are totally consumed in the
flashing images on screen.
It is for this amount of time that our worries and problems
disappear, even if at the time we aren’t aware of it. It is only when we
have the time to think and worry about something, that it actually becomes a problem.
If, on the other hand, you can keep yourself busy doing something
like studying, cleaning or just socialising then you limit the time you
have to let your problems consume you. After all, something is only a
problem when you think about it.
3. Realise You Can Get Through Anything
I firmly believe that it is completely up to us how we deal and react
with every single situation in life. And, for that reason, I believe it
is possible to see the positive in everything and enjoy almost all
aspects of life. That being said though, it is much easier said than
done, and there are definitely hard times which we have all faced in
life.
Have you struggled? Is there something that has happened in your life
that was really terrible? If so, then realise you got through it in one
piece. How do I know? Because you’re sitting in front of a computer
screen and able to spend your time reading an article like this.
No matter what challenges you have came across in your life, you have
been able to get through them. Because of that, you will be able to do
exactly the same again with whatever you are worrying about now or
anything that faces you in the future.
4. Put Things Into Perspective
Just like looking at the worst possible outcome can force us to
realise our worries really aren’t that bad, so can the art of putting
things into perspective.
Unless something threatens your health or the health of those around
you, then it is not that big of a problem. Debt, a break-up or even
losing a material item is really nothing compared to the possibility of
death or something really serious.
I remember the story of one man in a poor area of America who really
wanted to become a music producer. He spent as much of his spare time as
he could making music and honing his talents. Yet, his parents wanted
something different. They wanted him to become a lawyer or a doctor
purely for financial reasons, despite the fact that he had no interest
in either.
They pushed him so hard and so often that one day he ended up
committing suicide, leaving a note of how he wished they would have
supported him. Put things into perspective.
Thanks to the four steps above, and living in the moment as often as
possible, I have practically eliminated all worries and problems from my
life. If you follow these steps and put them into action, you’ll find
that it is perfectly possible for you to do the same.
I would love to hear your feedback and additions in the comments below!
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