Worry-not Warrior

Are you tired of worrying? Are you unnecessarily thinking about potential worst case scenarios and how to deal with them? Do you waste away precious energy imagining how difficult life will be once this fantasy situation comes to fruition? Do you spend more time experiencing anxiety about what might happen instead of enjoying what is happening? Do you feel that you are stressed more than you really should be?

How much time have you spent worrying about things that have never happened? What positive impact has your worry had on you and your life? What negative affects has it had on you emotionally and physically? How has it impacted your choices? How has it limited your perceptions?

Sure, we benefit from acting responsibly and taking care of ourselves and others in a caring way. We benefit greatly from looking at a situation head on and determining the best course of action to take to solve problems and make life better. These are all positives until worry comes into play. Worry does not have to be part of our internal process. Worry sometimes becomes a part of the process, but it is not a requirement.

Knowing these things, which many us of do, doesn’t necessarily help us stop worrying. Sometimes worry just takes over. Our stomach starts getting queasy and our heart starts speeding up. Then our worrisome thoughts take control.

Soon we start believing our worrisome thoughts and, before you know it, another worrisome thought rises, and then another, and another. After a while, depending on how fearful we feel at the time, the thoughts eventually subside. Shortly after, we start to feel a bit better.

Often we feel great frustration with ourselves because we know that worry really isn’t necessary. We just can’t figure out how to stop it. On some level it just seems inevitable and a normal part of life.

Here is a suggestion to help you beat worry. Adopt the attitude of a warrior. Imagine that you are capable of winning all the battles that are coming your way. Picture yourself wearing full armor. Imagine that you carry all the weapons needed to handle the situation at hand. See yourself as being capable and courageous, and readily equipped with an endless arsenal of solutions. Look your worry in the eye and move past it with confidence and strength.

Take a few moments and let yourself vividly create this new reality in your mind. Take some deep breaths and make a commitment to win the battle against worry. Visually see yourself winning the fight; fending off worry as you move through the day. Picture yourself with the confidence and determination of a warrior, winning all your internal battles against worry. Imagine yourself taking your sword and striking your worries away. See the pictures in your mind and let it flow into your reality.

Abide by a new strategy: perceive yourself as a victor and settle for nothing less. Put your vision to action and make it happen. Give yourself the opportunity to become a worry-not warrior and feel victorious during the battles that ensue throughout your day.