Don’t Worry, Be Happy

The mere mention of the word ‘worry’ and I start to feel uneasy, anxious and downright gloomy. Check out the dictionary meaning of worry and it will make you feel even worse…not good.

This motivated me to do some additional research and what I discovered gave me that light bulb moment thing. It was a total transformation. Changing the way I think really did change the way I behaved. Here is what I learned.

Worry and concern are two different paradigms. Worry immobilises you but concern motivates you into action. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, however worrying about tomorrow is time wasted, although sometimes it is hard to tell the difference.

So how will I know when I’m doing one or the other? 

Careful planning, goal setting, and strict schedules can alleviate worry when implemented well. Worriers by contract, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust in their faith, family, friends, or anyone trying to help.

When you think about it, worrying is pointless because it can’t change anything. Despite this, most of us allow the worries of tomorrow hamper our efforts today. We do the opposite of what we know to be true. 

We worry about issues we have no control over and neglect those we do, like our attitude, relationships, and responsibilities.

Worry is also bad for you. It affects your health, disrupts your effectiveness in life, negatively impacts the way we treat others and reduces our ability to trust.

So how can we change?

Well, the first thing is to make a conscious decision and live for today. You can’t change the past and you can’t predict the future, so focus on the here and now. Even if you don’t fully understand what’s happening to you now, it will become apparent in the fullness of time.

Maintain your faith, trust in people, and believe that all things are possible. An apt acronym for fear is False Expectations Appearing Real. The things we fear are not always real. 

Change the way you think, and it will change the way you behave.

Don’t worry, be happy.