2 Steps to Overcome Fear and Worry
Do you worry about anything and everything? Do you live in fear?
A friend sees an old acquaintance and says ‘Hey, Joe! How are you doing?’ Joe replies with a stoop to his shoulders and a sad countenance ‘Ok, I guess, under the circumstances.’ The friend steps back and says ‘Well, what are you doing under there?’
That’s a silly story, but a great illustration.
From a health perspective, many of us have heard that physicians describe "worry" as the most subtle and destructive of all human diseases. In fact, the word ‘worry’ is derived from an old British word which means ‘to choke oneself’ and ‘to harass oneself.’
I came to realize that my own worry, fear and doubt were destructive forces in my life which I could not control by mere willpower. Something had to change if I wished to enjoy the life and blessings all around me. I came to the sober realization that my emotions had me on a roller coaster – and the ride was no fun.
Are you at that point? As they say, knowing you have a problem is the first step to recovery… and it was certainly mine. So, what changed? How I approached the situations causing me fear, worry or doubt.
1. I decided to choose gratitude and appreciation.
I realized I spent too much time on the ‘what ifs… ‘ of life rather than on appreciating the things and people which gave me joy. It sounds corny, but I was negligent in counting my blessings. However, I can tell you from a practical sense that the day I chose to balance between appreciating the positive things in life while finding significance in the tough times, bad things no longer brought chaos in my life.
Put it into action: Where should you start? Let people know around you how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate and love them. Do not take friends and loved ones for granted. Surround yourself with people who have a positive influence over you. People whom you trust to give you good advice and whose life is an example for you to follow.
2. Ask yourself: ‘Is there anything I can do about this situation, circumstance or outcome?’
It was Stonewall Jackson who said:" Do not take counsel from your fear!” In other words, do not listen to or act on thoughts which come from fear.
Put it into action: When you catch yourself worrying or being afraid, ask yourself the following question: Is there anything I can do about it? If the answer is YES, then do something about it. If the answer is NO then you’ve got to let it go!
Some of you may be thinking "easier said than done.” Well, I hear you loud and clear! I used to think the exact same thing. However, when I started examining my circumstances and dividing them into things I could control and act upon and things I could not, it was amazing to see how much chaos simply left my life!
Changing habits is not easy. It takes time, work, consistency and patience. Taking the steps above will help you take back your life from fear and worry.
