I find that there are three types of worriers in life:

1.    Those who worry about everything and love it.
2.    Those who worry about nothing and love it.
3.    Those who worry sometimes, feel guilty when they do, try to worry less, but need help in getting their mind off of their worries and onto more productive pursuits.

This article is for the last group.

Worry is a wasted emotion that robs your spirit from enjoying the greatness of life.  I’ve noticed that people who fall into this third group bounce back and forth from wellness to illness very quickly:  a cold coming on one day, perfectly fine the next; “I had strep throat over the weekend, but it mysteriously cleared up on it’s own,” etc.  I have no doubt that you’ve noticed these types of patterns in others, or even perhaps yourself from time to time.

It’s important to understand the effect of worry on your body and your psyche.  To put it simply, the effect is negative.  Chronic worriers tend to be chronic sufferers with debilitating physical, emotional, or psychological illnesses, all of which can be avoided by simply letting go of worry.  Today, I want to talk about how to do just that – let go of worry.

First I want you to recognize that while small annoyances and petty complaints might seem minor on the surface, worrying about small things establishes a pattern of needless worry.  This is often how bad habits start, is it not?

Napoleon Hill said,

“Feed your mind on little worries and it will develop quite an appetite for big worries.”

He was right.

So how does one overcome and conquer, once and for all, the problem of worry?

The best method of eliminating worry is to transform that energy into some sort of constructive activity.  By taking action, any action at all – it does not have to be related to the problem - you take control of your mind by making it focus on something constructive.  My top three choices are:

1.    Gardening
2.    Cooking
3.    De-cluttering

But here are some additional suggestions that have worked for me:

1.    Taking a long drive
2.    Going for a long walk
3.    Cleaning the house
4.    Cleaning the car
5.    Filing

There’s something about physical activity that gives the mind a rest – and that’s a very good thing.  Some of my male friends will engage in a “pick-up” basketball game, work on a hobby carpentry project, or do some woodworking.  You know what works for you.

One of the biggest ways to get your mind off of your problems is to help others.  Serving your fellow man in some way often helps put perspective on your troubles, and gives your ego a positive boost in the process.

Whatever you do, keep it simple so that you develop the habit of transforming worry into success.

You’re in good company if you’re in the third group as I’ve outlined above.  People who worry incessantly don’t accomplish much; people who worry about nothing don’t seem to be very successful either.  It is those of us in that third group who turns our adversities into opportunities and is changing the world.  So don’t feel guilty about your worry, transform it into something great – you can do it!

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation