What, Me Worry? Not Anymore.
by Carol Giannantonio
Many of us work very hard to organize our lives and work to minimize surprises and problems. However, despite your most diligent efforts, things don’t always turn out this way. Life is unpredictable. Life happens.
I have been the so called “worrying” type for many years and can relate to the pain and no gain of worry. However, by setting a goal around easing my worry, I am now able to control my worry situations and turn them into positive productive, happy moments in my life. As a result, I experience less stress, more happiness and success. Not a bad prize for taking a few simple yet committed action steps towards changing my worry times to wonderful times.
Worry sets in for most of us when our plans don’t turn out as we expect and our life takes a few sharp turns or we are faced with a decision to make. Ultimately, worry is a form of fear and anxiety caused by lack of decision.
However, spending hours of worrying is unproductive. You begin to feel trapped, confused, frustrated. You loose your ability to focus on solutions. You find yourself caught in the drama of the situation- a situation that may not be as severe as you perceive it to be because your focus is blurred by your worrying. However, by shifting your perspective to gain clarity on your situation, you can begin to focus on realistic solutions. It is these solutions that will stop your worrying.
Here are four steps to get you started living a worry free and wonderful life.
One: Gain Clarity on the “current reality”. Define the worry situation clearly in writing. Most of our problems can be solved by clearly defining them in writing. Remember, “Awareness and Acceptance is half the battle.
Two: Determine the worst possible outcome of the situation. What is the absolute worst that can happen?
Three: Resolve to accept the worst should it occur. The first step in dealing with any negative situation is to be willing to have it so. Once you resolve to accept the worst, your mind will become calm and clear and you’ll be ready to take constructive action.
Four: The final step is to take immediate action. Begin doing everything you possibly can to improve upon the worst. The cure for worrying is to engage in meaningful action daily.
Involve yourself in positive actions that move you forward. These actions alone will get your mind excited about the new possibilities that lie ahead vs. worrying about what has passed or what may happen. You’ll find you don’t have time to worry since your too busy taking positive actions and enjoying the excitement.
As you take action, your confidence, courage and sense of control will return. Your fears and anxiety will disappear. Infect, you will feel happy and energized.
Try these three action steps and you’ll be amazed how quickly your worries disappear.
1. Take out a piece of paper and make a list. Down one side of a page list all the situations causing you stress or worry at the moment.
2. On the other side of the page, write out the worst possible thing that could happen as a result. Review your list. Read it out loud. You’ll be amazed to see much of your worry disappear with this simple exercise.
3. This is my favorite, when you catch yourself worrying stop, close your eyes and remember how good it feels when you are not worrying!
Carol Giannantonio
Certified Life, Business & Executive Coach
http://www.carolgcoach.com
carolgcoach@aol.com
Developing Successful Leaders and Profitable Businesses
in a Global Economy.
“People with goals have vision, act with
purpose and achieve success” .– Carol Giannantonio
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