Worrying is Worthless

Worrying gets an undeservedly bad rap. In the same way that love can be blind, so can worry. Many of us have been misguidedly encouraged to think that a good attitude is enough for success. But the truth is, you can be optimistic and still suffer from the effects of worry. Worrying is the process of feeling anxious about a future outcome—and in doing so, it actually changes your future. When you worry, you are rewiring your brain and risking your future happiness, peace and success. To understand why this happens, let’s first take a look at what actually triggers worry.

Worry is triggered by doubt. Doubt is the feeling or belief that something isn’t right or true. And worry is an attempt to solve doubt—to dispel it so that you feel better. But the very nature of worry implies that it doesn’t work. Like it or not, the human brain works through feeling—so if we want less worry in our lives, it’s up to us to seek out a solution, rather than just wanting one.

So the worry is the problem. So I just have to stop worrying?

Well, not exactly. The point of worrying is to figure out how you’re going to deal with a problem, right? So if you actually have a solution in hand at that time—if you’ve just finished writing up an action plan or are on the way to meet with your mentor—then, by all means, worry away. But if you don’t have a solution in hand, then worry isn’t useful.

Worry is useful only if it leads directly to a solution. otherwise it is just another form of procrastination that takes us further away from solving our problems. So next time you feel that familiar "something is wrong" feeling in your gut, stop and ask yourself "what can I do about it?" The answer will help get you a step closer towards finding a solution instead of wasting energy worrying about what could go wrong. The art of worrying is to worry over things that are in your power to change and to let go of everything else.

For example, if you are worried about a relationship, focus on what you can do to make it better. If you are worried about money, focus on how you can make more or save more. If you are worried about your kids, focus on what you can do to help them be successful. If you have been worrying about something but have done nothing to improve the situation, then perhaps it is time to stop worrying and start changing.

Another reason why worrying is useless is because most of our worries will never come true anyway. This is because we often worry about things that are highly unlikely and even if they were likely, we typically don't have the ability to do anything about them anyway. In addition, worrying tends to be overdone – usually there isn't really much to worry about. It can paralyze you, making it impossible to tackle challenges head-on. It's caused by negative thoughts about past events or future uncertainties. Your mind can't tell the difference between what's real and what you're imagining, so it reacts as if the danger is imminent. If worry is causing you anxiety, take action to prevent the situation from occurring instead of incessantly worrying about it. That way, if it does occur, you're already ready to face it without having wasted all that time worrying.

Some people think it's a good thing to worry as it helps them stay safe. The negative side of worrying is that it can make us sick, depressed, and anxious. So how can you stop worrying? Here's how:

1. write down your worries

2. face them

3. realise they are not that bad

4. be happy

5. don't stop here, keep going to the next step.
To stop worrying, you need to practice letting go. If you want to let go of something, you must understand what you're holding on to and why you're holding on so tightly. It's like trying to learn a new skill. When you start learning something new, you might be nervous and feel like quitting at times. But take it from me: practice makes perfect. Practice your skill every day and you'll be surprised at how good you'll feel about yourself when you finally master the art of letting go.

Face your Fears

Worrying is a way of avoiding uncomfortable situations. It's a defense mechanism to keep you safe. We worry about things that we don't have control over like the weather, the economy, our health etc. but we can't possibly control them and they'll happen whether we worry or not.

Worry when you have control

If you're at work and something is going to happen (like someone may be fired) then you can start worrying if there is something that you can do about it. If you can't then stop worrying because there's no point in it. If you're waiting in line and there's nothing you can do about it then don't worry about it.

If you are a deep worrier, here’s is how you might be able to curb worrying 

1. Understand you're worrying too much.

2. Remind yourself that everything is going to be alright.

3. Enjoy yourself; your circumstances are probably not as bad as they appear in your mind.

4. Do one worry-relieving activity that you enjoy: take a bubble bath (or shower, if you don't have a bathtub), read a book, listen to relaxing music, stroll in the park, etc.

5. Count your good fortunes, either mentally or with a written list.

6. Distract yourself with something fun or enjoyable. This can be different for each person, but might include:

7. Positive self-talk helps you feel better and also improves your mood, which in turn will help you think more clearly about the things that concern you, allowing you to find the best solution for them at a time when your mind is more relaxed and capable of reason.