Worry Later
February 18, 2020
Dan Thurmon
Show Stopping Performance. Life Changing Message.
Does worry help, or prevent you from doing what is needed? This week's video provides a sure-fire strategy to help you transform anxiety into action.
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Does being worried really help you? Or does it prevent you from doing what's needed? This week we're Off Balance On Purpose in New Bern, NC.
"Don't worry about it." Great advice… unless you're worried. In which case it's terrible advice. Being worried and trying to fight it, only makes it worse. Worry is just another flavor of stress, and affects your physical and mental health, your sleep, your productivity, and your temperament.
Worrying is one the least productive activities you could select. And it also makes you less resourceful. But it serves a purpose. When we worry we confirm that we care, and feel that we're doing something meaningful. You’re worrying. But are you really improving anything?
Try this strategy to regain control of your thinking and results. Worry later. When you feel the worry thoughts coming on - the anxiety, uncertainty and fear - acknowledge that it's happening, that it's part of your process, and reveals that you care. And then use that feeling as a cue to act now, and worry later.
You may find, rather quickly, that this technique allows you to redirect energy and thinking into more positive actions. Work the problem. Make progress. Build confidence by doing what's necessary, rather than worrying if it will be enough. Just do that part later.
And if there's no action you can take to address the worry, then live your life, improve yourself. And worry later. And if that sounds harsh, you might be confusing "worry" with concern, or love, thinking "if I don't worry, then I don't care enough." Wrong! You can care deeply about your job, or your children's future. And that does not help you now or them later. So feel it, postpone it, and act.
Continue to hit the snooze button on your worry alarm, and you might find that you're quite comfortable postponing it indefinitely while you handle more of what you can control, and let go of what you can't. Until next week, stay Off Balance On Purpose.