7 things you can do to keep worry from wasting your time

1. You are the sum total of the 5 people you spend the most time with … so avoid those that spend their time focusing on the doom and gloom of a situation. When a race car driver, going 250 mph heads into a skid, the driver will automatically turn his (or her) head to the left. Because, if she or he turns their head to the wall … that’s exactly what they’ll hit … the wall. There’s truth to the saying … You GET what you FOCUS ON … So CHOOSE your FOCUS!!!

2. Worry … or the voice inside your head that starts with “What if … (finish the sentence with the worst possible scenario)??” will lead you down a path of more of the same. That little voice’s job is simply a “warning” or “red flag” to keep you from experiencing PAIN, like a worried mother who tells you not to run with a toothbrush in your mouth or you’ll swallow it and die for sure. Although, 95% of the time it’s a waste of your time to worry incessantly about the future anyhow. When the voice in your head says “What if …?” you must take charge and interrupt the “worry pattern” with “Well, I suppose that could happen, and if it did what would I be willing to do first?” Having an action plan and being willing to take those steps can bring it down a notch or two and perhaps help us find solutions we didn’t see at first!

3. Gratitude is the key to happiness … and it may just be the cure to depression! When you feel sad, overwhelmed, worried about situations you can’t control …. Think of 10 things in your life you are grateful for (some of you may have to think really hard, I know) right now in this moment. Stay in the “present” when you do this … notice the “worry” part of your mind attempting to “hijack” your thoughts. See how tricky it is?

4. Go find a horse and stand close. The Heartmath Study discovered why horses are not only physically therapeutic for mentally and physically challenged folks, but also energetically healing. Horses have huge energy fields, and by simply being in their presence, their energy fields align our heart waves and our brain waves. When our heart and our brain waves are in sync, we feel in a state of “flow” … and are capable of more creativity and positive energy, both physically and mentally. High performance athletes and highly confident and motivating people are operating in this fashion … why not join them?

5. Take a hike! Studies have shown that twenty minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week increases the serotonin levels in our brain enough to decrease or even eliminate the need for antidepressants in people suffering from depression. Serotonin is the “feel good” neurotransmitter that naturally occurs and increases during physical exercise and other activities. So take a walk, a bike ride or a hike next time “worry” threatens to immobilize you.

6. Get crafty! Do something crafty and creative. Using the right side of our brain (where the “feelings” come from) gives us an opportunity for that side of the brain to express itself. Painting, pottery, writing, knitting, building something, cleaning out the closet (well, maybe), do a puzzle. You get the idea.

7. WOW or the Writing Over the Writing exercise. In cursive (handwriting) on a piece of paper, write across the page on the first line the worry thoughts going through your head, then when you get to the end, keep writing but write over what you’ve just written at least once. Then drop down to the next line on the page and write another line, and write over it. Keep writing in cursive and writing over what you’ve just written at least once. Keep writing and see what comes up. Do it until you have a “neutral” feeling about the initial thought or problem. The key is “if you want something to happen (a goal or if you want to repeat a positive behavior) write it so you can read it. If you want a “container” for negative feelings and thoughts, and simply a place for your right brain to be acknowledged, but not reinforced or encouraged, using cursive engages that right side, acknowledges the feeling, and then neutralizes the thought by writing over it making it illegible physically or by your subconscious mind.

Copyright 2006, Christina Haxton Reproduction in any form of this material is restricted without prior written permission from the author.