Have you ever listened to someone, perhaps even to your self, talk about being worried? You'll hear things like, "I'm so worried", "I'm worried sick", or as my mom used to tell me, "You worry me to death!"
Certainly makes worry sound like a very powerful force, doesn't it? And as a matter of fact, it is. Worry can make us sick, and in it's most extreme form, it can kill us.
Then why in the world do we do this thing called worry? For some people, it's simply become an emotional habit that they no longer think about. "I come from a family of worriers", as if it's a genetic feature like eye color. For others, it's how to show you care about someone. "If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't worry", as if worry is a form of love someone would want to receive.
Here's what happens when we worry: because our brain cannot tell the difference between reality and a vividly imagined picture (worry), we respond the same way emotionally. So when we worry, our brains have gone into the future and created a vivid living color picture of our worry, and then our emotions, and even our physiology, rush up to match the picture.
Here's a little experiment that will clearly show what I mean. Picture yourself at home in your kitchen, and then walking over to the refrigerator and pulling out a great big juicy lemon. Take it over to the counter, cut it in half, smell the juice and feel the juice on your fingers. Now cut one of the halves in half. More juice, more smell. Now cut a slice from one of the sections. More juice, more smell. Now bring that slice up to your nose and take a sniff. Then, finally, take a big bite of the lemon.
If your are like most folks, your mouth is watering now, and you may even be puckering up a bit too. Here's the important thing to notice for our purposes: there is no lemon. You vividly imagined, with my guidance, a picture that caused a physiological response in your body. Remember, there is no lemon.
And so it is when we worry.
So that leaves us with a couple of choices when we worry: we can get an ulcer or we can get moving. Let's take a closer look at each of these options.
How to Get an Ulcer
Worry. A lot. Raise it to an art form. Make sure to worry about things you can do nothing about. Or if you are worried about things you can do something about, be sure not to do anything about it. Let your worry cause you to live all your moments in the future, missing the present of the present. Become a "what-if person": you know, "what if this happens, what if that happens....."
How to Get Moving
Make a distinction between worry and concern. Worry freezes you, concern motivates you. Allow your worry and concern to motivate you to plan for the future. Remember, the best way to predict the future is to create as much of it as you can.
Pray. A lot.
Since worry is really nothing more than using our imagination in a negative way, turn the process on it's head. Instead of vividly imagining the worst possible outcome, switch to vividly imagining the best possible outcome, and/or the outcome you would like to have happen.
I've saved the best for last. The best cure that I know for worry is to TAKE ACTION! Create a plan, plan for the future, do every thing you can to prevent the negative outcomes you don't want and do every thing you can to get the positive outcomes you do want.
The neat thing here is that if you do all the above suggestions to get moving, you won't have time or space in your brain to worry. And my guess is you will enjoy life much more.
Thanks for reading, and keep the change.
Visit secretsofgreatrelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.
house refresh service Lincolnshire ..Conceptualizing stress: Stress often has a negative connotation. Failure, illnesses,... Read More
We all have it; we live with it daily: stress.... Read More
As small business owners, we often take on more than... Read More
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
Have you ever listened to someone, perhaps even to your... Read More
"I've got too much to do, I've just got too... Read More
Most people find it easy to identify the sources of... Read More
Let's face it! The majority of our time is either... Read More
Stress relief and managementRecognizing stress symptoms can be a positive... Read More
Positive self-esteem is very important for our general health and... Read More
There may be so much you want to change in... Read More
Genuine enthusiasm...real feeling of accomplishment...sense of satisfaction and fun. Welcome... Read More
?And holding it way down inside you like an old... Read More
This anger management Practice draws on the dual wisdom of... Read More
On a beautiful summer day years ago, I went water... Read More
As Montaigne said, "he who fears he will suffer, already... Read More
There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good... Read More
"Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn... Read More
The Rule of BalanceThere is more to life than work.... Read More
One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
Do you feel tense and anxious at work? Do your... Read More
Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one... Read More
Q. I've suffered a few setbacks and disappointments in the... Read More
licensed cleaning services Lake Forest ..If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
It is an inescapable fact, we live in a stressful... Read More
It is no secret that stress and related disorders are... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
Everyday can be full of stress but we all deserve... Read More
"Do you want to be a lump of coal or... Read More
There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S.... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
1. The Law of GiftsRichard Bach, author of "Illusions" says... Read More
The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily... Read More
Question 1"How do I get more time to play?"Answer: Schedule... Read More
Everybody deals with fear and anxiety, however some people have... Read More
Do you get frustrated with your spouse, your kids, your... Read More
All people experience stress and anxiety in one form or... Read More
Most of us lead busy lives, trying to successfully juggle... Read More
Today we have more stress in our lives than ever... Read More
Mark Twain once said, "It's not what we don't know... Read More
ResentmentsA wise friend once said that holding onto resentments is... Read More
Burt Reynolds revealed his vulnerable side when he realized he... Read More
Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today's... Read More
Here's an amazing quote from Time magazine:"At birth a baby's... Read More
Q. I wonder if you could help me with a... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
The National Center for health statistics reported that in 1997,... Read More
Do you ever feel stressed? Is stress a regular component... Read More
Stress Management |