OVERCOMING WORRY AND ANXIETY

In this day and age, it seems everyone is so maxed out. The pressure is on us all to perform at such a high degree just to survive. Tempers seem to flare so quickly, and solutions are hard to implement. Stress is so high that many are paralyzed in their thinking and living. Stress-related illnesses and diseases are running rampant and taking their toll. We need to fix this now.

In reality, overcoming worry and anxiety can be a simple process when we begin to understand that worry is our mind working in reverse to hold us back–a bad habit that can and must be changed. This habit of fear and worry always has a devastating impact on our mental and physical well-being, so if we are to overcome worry and anxiety in our lives, we must determine to take control of our thought life and begin to move in a forward direction with new and more productive habits of thinking.

So, how do we do that? As you may know, I could talk for hours about stress management, so I can only share a few of the strategies that have worked for me over the years. To develop habits of right thinking that will ultimately help us overcome worry and anxiety in our life, I have found that we must be sure our priorities are in the correct order. For me, that means more time spent in prayer and devotion, for that is where my peace comes from. That is the first step.

Daily remind yourself that "this too shall pass." Time changes things, and difficulties always have a way of moving on. I always ask myself, "what is the worst that can happen?" and then prepare to accept the worst. Then I start looking for solutions to the problems and challenges I am facing. This action step alone helps you overcome. (And do you know, the worst you imagine rarely happens!)

Make it a point to refuse to let the economy, your job or boss, or any other negative thing control your life. You are the decision-maker for your life. You choose your attitude.

When you discover that your decisions and choices have gone wrong, don't start placing blame. Take responsibility. It's never easy to admit you were wrong, but in doing so, the stress is often relieved entirely, and you are free to change course and make the right choices, unburdened and unhindered.

My best advice to you is to be more aware of when you start feeling the stress building up in you, and instead of trying to plow through it while you let all those negative emotions eat you alive, just stop! Take a moment to regain your bearings. Take a deep breath to relax and gain control of your emotions. Remind yourself that you are building a new and positive habit of thinking and reacting to help you overcome stress and anxiety.

I can almost guarantee something stressful will occur almost any time now. How will you react? The decision is yours.