Your mind will always suggest something to worry about – if you let it
Worry, worry, worry . . .
Sometimes I find myself turning into a worrywart. I start ruminating on the shouldas, couldas, wouldas rather than enjoying what’s going on right now in the moment. Or, maybe I’m playing the good old what if game:
“What if it rains on Saturday and spoils our outdoor plans?”
“What if this big project I’m working on is a flop?”
Intellectually, I know this type of thinking . . .
- Is a complete waste of my time and energy.
- Totally zaps my optimism and positive outlook.
- Is extremely detrimental to my overall peace and tranquility.
But still, there I go again. Letting my worries sabotage my serenity.
So I posted a little note on my desk to remind me of 5 things I can do INSTEAD of worry. Maybe they can help you too.
1. Trust
Whatever your Source, releasing your doubts and worries to a Higher Power can give a welcome relief from the stress and strain of life. Let it all go. Be still for a moment and recharge. Boost your hope, positive energy and resilience.
2. Help
Do something kind and caring for someone else. Encouraging others takes the focus off of ourselves – which is really at the heart of our worry. Serving others is the surest way to get a quick jolt of joy, peace and clarity.
3. Exercise
Get up and move. Walk, run, jump, hula hoop, it doesn’t matter! Any activity that commands your full attention will help distract you from those endless worry loops. Bonus: Taking care of your body keeps you healthy and strong.
4. Thank
Appreciate what you have. Sometimes we forget about the good stuff. By concentrating on the blessings in your life, your peace of mind will expand exponentially. Practice gratitude anytime you need to gain perspective and abundance in your life.
5. Dream
Imagine the most beautiful and serene island you’ve ever seen. Smell the fresh, salty ocean air. Feel the soft white sand squishing between your toes as you stroll along the beach in your tropical paradise. The warm breeze feels so rejuvenating, doesn’t it?
Life is meant to be full of fun and joy, not worry and dread. The sky is not falling! Everything really is going to be okay. You are the master of your life. You can CHOOSE what you think, how to act and react.
Take responsibility for operating in a worry-free zone. And, don’t judge or critique yourself when you do worry. Remember the aim is maintaining a calm mindset. Simply focus on the positive possibilities instead of the negative.
Create within yourself an island of joy and tranquility. Our mind is a mysterious universe waiting to be explored. Imagine the possibilities when we free ourselves from worry and find tropical tranquility.
What do you do instead of worry?
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Coming soon! The complete guide . . . An Island Perspective – Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility
About Renee
I love the “prescription”… Trust, Help, Exercise, Thank, and Dream. It’s wonderful! Another way that I handle my worries is to morph them into actionable concerns that can be addressed in the here-and-now. If it’s an action that cannot be immediately accomplished, I place it on my handy to-do list and voilà, the worry is gone. I love your advice Renee… always so practical, effective, light, and fun!
Great advice Thomas! I love your approach of taking action in the here and now. Thank you for your kind words. You are the most encouraging person I know. You guys should really check out his website: http://simpleencouragement.com/ He will touch your heart with his daily e-couragements. It’s always delightful to connect with people who are doing their best to make the world a better place!
Thanks Renee! I love those ideas. You’re so right about how worrying can really zap our energy and positivity. When I catch myself worrying I usually lighten myself up by joking with myself a bit and asking myself “Do you really need to be sooooo serious about all of this?” and “What’s a more empowering approach.” Usually a deep breath and a ‘zoomed out’ bigger perspective helps a lot too.
Your ideas are great and easy to remember. Thank you for sharing such light and beauty!
Great tips Rena! I love the idea of incorporating humor. Nothing like a good laugh to ease stress and worry. Taking a step back and putting life in perspective can generally help zap that worry monster too. Thanks for your kind comments!
Sweet post. I like the tip to exorcise. I mean exercise. For me, when I’m trying to dig out of the fuddle and wallow of worry, that particular thing starts with an agitated pacing. Wandering around the house. Inside. Outside. Then it morphs into a more productive sort of movement. Bottom line, what I get out of this is: “Dude, get grounded.” Work it out, get to something real. Mindless worry is what keeps me from being vulnerable enough to dig deep, feel, experience the reality, and succeed.
Thanks for shedding some light and helping remind me!
I am one of those people who sometimes get consumed by worry. But my way of dealing with ruminating is always a ‘take action’ approach. Because every effort I take will help dissipate the level of discomfort that I can control.
Michael,
It’s so interesting how we each deal with worry in our own unique way. I tend to pace when I get excited and enthusiastic. But I totally agree with you that mindless worry prevents us from facing our fears and growing into our own best self. Thanks for your insightful comment!
Lee,
We all get consumed with worry at times. It starts out slow and then explodes into a runaway freight train. Great idea to just jump in and take action. That helps us get back into the present moment and focus on what we can do . . . now! Thanks for sharing your approach!
I remind myself who is in charge. I say the first verse of the 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my shepherd…..my boss at work is not my shepherd, I’m not my shepherd, my worries are not my shepherd BUT the Lord is my shepherd and in charge.
Thank you, Lisa, for giving examples of how you share your light. Sounds like staying plugged in to your ultimate power source helps you to maintain your glow.
Renee, I’m really enjoying your blog and browsing through the archives. I find that THANK is a key point for me. I can get caught up in the crisis of the moment (and there always is one if we’re looking for it) and become blind to my blessings. It’s always a needed jolt for me to change my perspective: talking myself out of things, like “Okay,we have a tight budget but we also have a great marriage. Which is more important?” Or, “Okay, I don’t have as much time to work on this project as I’d like, but I have three happy healthy children. What matters most?”
It’s not that situations should be ignored, but when I get some perspective by being thankful for what’s good in my life, I can deal with things in a calm and even joyful way, as a challenge and not as a crisis.
Thanks!
So happy you’re enjoying our blog Annie! You are so right about gratitude. Focusing on our blessings gives us a fresh, new perspective on life. No matter what each of us are dealing with at any given moment, we can find peace and tranquility by remembering the good stuff. Thanks Annie!