8 ways to help you overcome worry

Overcoming worry begins with identifying the root cause of your concern. It may be the problems you have, whether actual or potential. It could also be unpleasant things that you are scared might happen.

Causes of worrying

Our concerns and problems are usually the primary cause of our worry. And they may include some of these mentioned below.

• Health issues: However small, these can be a great source of worry and anxiety.
• Toxic relationships with a spouse, partner, or family
• A stressful environment at work or school
• Pressure of meeting deadlines
• Losing a job, child, contest
• Failing in class or at work
• Fear of failure
• Other life challenges like separation of parents, child birth, relocating to a new city or school
• Potential problems now or in the future

It is sad how some people spend so much time worrying about potential problems like were I to fall sick or pass away, what will happen to my kids, business, or even my spouse.

When you look at these peoples’ concerns, of course, they are valid, but the question is, Will worrying about your problem solve it?

If not, then drop the worry and look towards finding a solution.

We are all victims of worry from time to time, though some more than others.

Worry comes from a fear that things won’t work out right. Worriers always believe the cards are stacked against them.

Often, when something goes wrong, you hear someone say,” YOU SEE, I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG, I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN.”

Not knowing that they put themselves in that very situation by their negative thinking.

I don’t know if you have heard about this line of thinking, but you are what you think. Believe it or not. Your dominant thoughts will appear as your life. The more you think negative thoughts, the more bad things are going to manifest in your life. That’s just how life works.

We all know someone who is always complaining and grumbling about something, and for some reason, life keeps giving them more things to grumble about. They even start to wonder what happened to them, if they are cursed or something. But in actual sense, it’s their mind and tongue that have damned them.

Effects of worry and anxiety

Worry has both positive and negative effects but the negative outweigh the positives. And I would also like to mention that the positive bit is more because of thinking than worrying.

THINKING about what is bothering you is a great way to come up with a solution, but worrying about your problems and concerns is sure a way to send yourself to an early grave.

The negative effects of worrying include;

• Development of stress related ailments like hypertension.
• Reduced ability of the body to fight illness, hence poor immunity making one more susceptible to disease.
• Physical and mental exhaustion
• Difficulty in concentrating on other important tasks at hand.
• Bitterness in your life and your relations with other people.
• Attracting more situations that cause you to worry into your life.

Even the Bible mentions that the tongue is the creator. And before you utter something, it all begins in the mind. Therefore, for one to change one’s life situation(s), one needs to start in the mind . Become more optimistic rather than pessimistic.

Worrying is a waste of time. Whether you worry or not, good things and bad things will happen in life. And there’s nothing you can do about it, so why worry?

NORMALIZE LIVING YOUR LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME AND LETTING GO OF THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL.

A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.

John Lubbock

Here are a few facts to keep you from worrying every time life isn’t going your way.

• The God You believe in is way bigger than your problems.
• The universe would never bring something your way that it knew you couldn’t handle.
• There is always good in every situation, no matter how bad it looks at the time.
• Everything is under divine control.
• Everything is happening for your good.
• Whether you worry or not, good things and bad things will happen; that’s just how life is.
• It could have been worse; be grateful for what it is now.
• Everything happens for a reason.

The bible says,” You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” These truths will help free your mind of worry and your heart of anxiety.

Know that this chapter too, shall pass; nothing is permanent. No matter how stormy and dark it is now, the sun will surely shine again.

Instead of worrying, find solutions for they really do exist. If you can’t find any, remember that worrying can’t help you either. Take life one day at a time, and soon, this too shall pass.

Take a look at the picture below, draw it out on a piece of paper, and place it where you can see it often. It will help to keep YOU from worrying.

Instead of worrying about potential problems, keep yourself busy with today’s work, just do what you can today. Worrying about what your future problems will be like, tough or bearable, whether or not you will be able to handle them, is self- torture.

Enjoy the problems you have now first!

Let tomorrow worry about itself.

And take to heart the words of a Swedish proverb that is translated as, ” WORRY GIVES A SMALL THING A BIG SHADOW. “

When those problems come, if they ever do, at that moment, you will know what to do. Therefore, have your peace for now, and take it one day at a time.

Mastering how to deal with worry in your life will bring light to your dark situations and more happiness into your life and the lives of your loved ones.

How to overcome worry

Here are some practical ways to help you stop worrying about whatever may be bothering you.

Whether it be a stressing boss, pressure at work, health issues, your children, a toxic partner or relationship, financial challenges, or losing a job, just name it.

1. Meditation:

Mindfulness meditation can help you take your mind off your concerns and focus on more fulfilling and happy thoughts, hence bettering your mood.

Meditation also helps improve focus by teaching you to live in the moment. There will always be something not going as you like but you shouldn’t let that alter your life or make you bitter.

2. Practicing gratitude:

Whereas a daily gratitude session would keep you on a beautiful frequency of attracting more things to be grateful for from the universe, practicing gratitude in your lowest moments will surely change your mood.

Look around at your life. Even during that very low moment, you still have so many things to be grateful for, from the free air you are breathing, eyes that see, a proper functioning nose, ears, good health, parents, siblings that care and so many answered prayers.

Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life. Listen to this to learn more about the power of gratitude.

For a more detailed understanding of how gratitude works and how to incorporate it to your daily life, please check out The Magic by Rhonda Byrne.

3. Another strategy to help you stop worrying is exercising.

The exercises may range from walking, jogging, running , yoga, stretches, or whatever it is that works for you.

Taking your mind off your worries and focusing it on other things like nature, your body, and other people could help you get a lot of insight into your situations.

4.Getting your thoughts on paper may also be very helpful.

Our minds tend to magnify our problems.

Once you put those thoughts on paper and read them through a couple of times or out loud, it could help you realize they aren’t as big as your mind is letting you believe. It could also be the starting point of coming up with a solution.

5. Talking to an understanding friend or mentor can be a great way to stop worrying too.

Looking at your problems from someone else’s perspective may help you get more insight and even relief. Your situation may not be as bad as it seems. And your mentor or friend could also offer you some advice on how to deal with your problems.