If you tend to worry a lot about your kids, the world, politics, etc – you might be using your kids and other issues as an excuse to worry for the sake of worry. Everyone has a favorite negative emotion and worry is a very popular one. Think about it… what does your worry get you? Does it get you attention? Care? Extra love? Does it keep you from having to face the hard reality of your own life? Does it keep your mind too busy to ask the big questions?
Worry is when you tell yourself a story about someone and fret about all the possible negative futures. Sounds a lot like stress. Stress is when you tell yourself a story about yourself and fret about all the possible negative futures. Worry is just stressing about other people that you have no control over.
Maybe you just woke up and noticed some things in your life that need to change. Maybe that change will be hard. OK. That’s still no need for worry or stress.
When you find yourself starting to worry or stress – notice your mind telling you that story; notice your mind running through possible negative futures. Now breathe. You do not know the future and the past is done. Be here now and make this moment count. Nothing else matters.
