Techniques For My Fellow Worriers
Here's A Poem for your Saturday (not autobiographical – ok, well maybe a little)
How Do I Worry?
Let me count the ways.
I worry in the morning, and in the evening, and when I wake up in the middle of the night.
I worry about my people, my people’s people, and my dog (and other people’s dogs).
I worry about aging, and not aging, and what’s that weird spot on my nose?
I worry about staying stuck, and moving forward, and what if I’m too late (or too early)?
I worry about … insert 34 more lines of worries here.
And worst of all, I worry that I’m worrying too much.
…..
Can you relate?!?
I used to be a world-class worry wart, but now I only occasionally slip back into the habit of no-win worry … you know, the kind of worry where you seem to find the worst case scenario for everything.
If you're a fellow worrier, here are a few techniques I've used to stay out of the spiral:
I get inquisitive. I ask myself questions to try to get to the bottom of what’s actually going on. See this week’s Super Short Show for 3 specific questions you can use.
I take the next best action. When I’m in my mind too much, I try to counterbalance it by taking some sort of physical action.
I remind myself that the people I love are whole and resourceful. When I'm worrying for others, I try to remember that my worry doesn’t help them or me.
I look for past evidence of resilience. I recall times when others have faced adversity and moved forward with courage.
I make friends with uncertainty. I remember that no one on the planet gets the benefit of being certain all of the time.
