I recently spoke with a friend about a serious financial crisis he was going through. Worry was a constant, draining battle, he declared with a sigh.
photo by ewar woowar
Worry is a strange creature, much like the caterpillars in the picture above. It builds its nest, using our mind to feed it’s growing community of negative thoughts. As worry spreads, it consumes more and more of us. It consumes our energy, our thoughts, and our life. Worry brings about nothing but death.
I am in process of finishing The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz. While reading, I stumbled upon a sentence which caught my attention, “Action cures fear.” Schwartz then goes on to define fear as, “worry, tension, embarrassment and panic all stemming from a mismanaged, negative imagination.” It therefore makes sense that action would indeed also cure worry.
I tossed this sentence around in my head wondering what it would look like and how curing worry could possibly be this simple.
I then remembered my friend and the solution he shared which helped him rid the nest of worry from his head. He did so by imagining the very worst that could happen. When he did this, he was able to stop worrying and start moving toward a solution to his problem.
The reason it worked? He realized the worst that could happen was actually not that bad.
As I thought through my friend’s story of conquering his worry, I realized this was a perfect example of how action does indeed cure worry.
After facing the worst, my friend was able to look his worry square in the eye and say, “Ah-hah! I found you out. You’re actually not very scary after all!” From there he was able to take needed action and get his finances under control.
Until that point, worry was nesting in his mind with gusto, and he was in turn paralyzed by it.
Action cures fear. Worry is simply fear from mismanaged, negative thinking.
So, do what my friend did. Face the worst that could happen in your mind and then move on to steps of action! Make the call, take the test, ask the questions, get the help, face the past, or do whatever you need to do to embrace your future with confidence!
Question: What action can you take today to keep worry from nesting in your head?
Absolutely Claudia – you and I have discussed this before. Imagination, thoughts and beliefs are SO powerful! I use that very same tactic – I stop and imagine the worst that can happen and then what actually is going on doesn’t seem nearly as bad! And it does create momentum to take action. Fear is a tactic of the enemy meant to paralyze us – we have to take Joyce Meyer’s advice and “do it afraid!”
Ann,
Yes, we have talked about this topic a little bit haven’t we!? 😉
Thanks for adding that phrase from Joyce Meyer! I haven’t heard that one before and I love it!
Claudia, I love how your friend looks at the worst case scenario. I too try to look at it from that viewpoint when I’m in a tricky situation, I then realize that the worst case scenario isn’t “that bad” and that I would be able to get through it. Having that peace of mind that I would be able to survive through the situation gives me hope and encouragement to fight through it and quite often the worst case scenario never happens!
I do too Jon!
I have read it before and used it myself, but I haven’t heard other people I know use that approach specifically in their life. It was cool to hear!
And you are right… most often the worst case scenario never happens. I was able to use it today while at the dentist 🙂
Haha, avoiding the worst case scenario at the dentist is always a good thing! 🙂
You said it Jon! Totally!!
Claudia, this is so true. I too have used this in my life. When I have been on a track of thinking that I have to do this or that but it looks like what I want to happen isn’t going to take place, I step back and say “ok, if this doesn’t happen like I want, what’s the worse that can happen?” It helps to keep things in perspective and allows us to really see what’s going on. Love what Ann said that Joyce Meyer says-do it afraid! Very Powerful.
Donna,
I loved that saying as well! It is powerful, and we are often going to be afraid while taking action, but the life and freedom it brings is amazing! You and I both know how powerful it is!!!
On a totally separate note Donna, I saw two articles in a recent Country Living Magazine which highlighted two separate Etsy businesses! I thought that was so cool and it made me think of your business. Maybe you will be in the next edition of Country Living… I’ll keep a look out!
How cool about the etsy shops. Do you remember which ones they were? I’d love to read the article. I’d love to be featured in a magazine. That would definitely kick the biz into higher gear. I’m going to Atlanta in Feb. for a large antique sale so I hope I can find a ton of things for the shop. I did just find some really pretty dresses that I am posting.
Donna,
I got the name of one of them – it is Little Sapling Toys. They are also at littlesaplingtoys.com but they got their start on Etsy and now they are thriving!
The other one that I didn’t get the name of hand embroidered initials into really nice cotton/linen dish cloths. Really vintage looking. Very cool!
I’m excited to see what you find at the sale!
Thanks Claudia. I’ll check them out. I’ll also let you know what I find!
Awesome Donna!
The Magic of Thinking Big is a fantastic resource. Since reading this book and a few others, I too have taken this “what’s the worst that could happen” approach with many aspects of life. Unless we’re jumping off a bridge, it’s usually not too painful.
Haha, yes Chris very true! Yea I agree with your declaration of the book being a fantastic resource! Michael wants to read it again, he read it when we first started down this wonderfully crazy path and I keep reading him snippets which is making him anxious to dive in again.
Oh, Michael also informed me of the great success you and Karen are having with the cookbook pursuit! Great job to both of you. You are blazing!
The book is definitely worth multiple reads. In fact, I should revisit it myself this year!
Thanks for your kind comments. We’ve worked hard and been blessed to get to this point, but we still have a long journey ahead. However, our confidence continues to grow with each small and large success!
I hear you Chris! I am excited to see how your persistance and hard work pay off!
Michael was telling me about your skilled cold calling abilities. Bravo Chris! 🙂
I’ve often found walking career coaching clients back from the worst possible scenario is a really effective way to get them “unfrozen” from fear. One thing is for sure – thinks are usually not as bad as they seem. Sometimes they are – but not always. I love the Schwartz book – one of my all time favorites.
Cool approach Tom and super helpful for your clients, to be sure! Out of curiosity, what are your other ‘favorites’? I’m always on the lookout for more book recommendations 🙂
I recent finished The Power of Habit which was great. Currently reading 4 Hour Chef…which is OK. My favorites are all here: http://www.mondayisgood.com/resources-2/
Awesome post, Claudia! Action cures many things, and worry is a non-active state in my opinion… Worry is one of those things that can trap us or hold us down…. We think we’re being real by worrying about the problem, but in reality we’re just defeating any positive efforts…
Rob!
Hey thanks, always appreciate your input!
Yes, I like how you said that. Worry is a non-active state. It is! It is like sitting in the middle of a thick sweltering, bug infested jungle and wondering why you are getting bitten. Been there for years and never want to go back!
Blessings to you brother!
The mind set I am starting to work with is the fact that God has so much for me in the future that I am starting not to worry so much about the small day to day stuff. As a Catholic we have this season of lent that really helps me focus on these things and hopefully it stick well beyond Easter.
Mike,
That truly does put things into perspective doesn’t it? Whenever I look back on my life or read my old journals I always think to myself, “what was I so worried about?!”
Great to remember! Yes the season of lent. We also did that growing up, it definitely was meaningful!
Blessings!