At its essence, worry is a useful reaction, helping us anticipate and avoid danger by taking constructive action. But too often, worry becomes an endless loop that makes it hard to focus and perform, and stresses our physical systems. Take the self-test below to see how well you handle worry.
1. I seem confident and carefree to everyone who knows me. Actually, that was when I kept my worries to myself because I didn’t want to burden anyone with sharing my concerns.
2. I write about my fears and worries. This seems to take some of the power out of them. After writing, creative solutions seem to just show up.
3. I lie in bed for two or three hours at night worrying, just hoping to fall back asleep. I feel tired all the time.
4. Getting involved with my family, friends, church, neighborhood, organizations, etc., gives me the sense of being part of something bigger than myself. When I turn my attention from inside to outside, my worries seem to disappear.
5. When I find myself worrying, I get up and move around. Action seems to relieve my anxiety and give me a better perspective.
6. What really works for me when I’m feeling nervous and afraid is to take a long walk, run or bike ride, or go work out. It seems like the more I move, the less I worry.
7. When my worries are on an endless cycle, I know it’s time to make a gratitude list. Focusing on the things I’m grateful for is like completely letting go of my worries.
8. My worries seem to come out of nowhere and out of control. When I'm stuck, I feel like I can't come up with any solutions.
9. I worry mostly about things that, in fact, have a very low probability of actually happening, such as going bankrupt, dying in a plane crash, getting fired, etc.
10. Instead of letting nighttime thoughts keep me from falling asleep, I focus on physical sensations, such as the feel of my sheets and the warmth of my body.
11. I try to catch my worrying as close to its beginning as possible. Then I take some time to relax, breathe deeply and get centered again.
12. When I'm lost in my worrying thoughts, I experience physical sensations that I rarely notice, such as a racing heart, sweating, and shaking.
13. The more repetitive my worrying becomes, the more persuasive it seems.
14. I worry about other people because I don’t really trust that they can take care of themselves.
15. When I worry about something, I take action. Then I let go, trusting that I have done all I could.
Shifting your worry to wonder opens up possibilities for curiosity and action rather than dread and immobility. It is not uncommon to think about "What will happen? How will it all turn out? How can I act to make the outcome the best it can be?" But don’t stress yourself out unnecessarily by worrying about what may or may not happen. The Lord Jesus knows your and my needs, and He also accepts that we will have worries. Please listen to His teachings:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ...
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ... your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)
Author’s content used under license, © Claire Communications
