WORRY - It's all in your head
Sometimes it really is. But chances are, some of it is in the facts and in the conversations.
I was talking with my Friday morning coffee buddies this morning about a little heart issue I seem to be having when I run. One of my non-consoling friends said it was probably just in my head. I confidently and gently replied that I didn’t think it was. He replied, “That’s exactly what most people say when it really is just in their head.” We all laughed too loudly for an early Friday morning.
My friend may have something there.
Earlier this week I couldn’t sleep because I was worrying about something. I tried to let my points of frustration and angst evaporate into my slumber. Eventually a few hours later they did, but only because I finally got too tired to keep wallowing in my endless ponderings.
When I got up, I jumped back into my worry with some fact checking. That put most of my worries to rest. Later that evening, I took a 6 mile hike with two friends that I share some of my deeper struggles with. I told them about the night before and how I had worked through most of my worry by my fact checking. As I talked with them, the worry and the data points positively morphed into manageable projects.
Sometimes some easy steps can take something from the worry in our heads and put it in a more manageable place.
Let worry take its course - Sometimes worry is not warranted - it’s just insecurity and lack of control. But as I think about my worry-points, sometimes solutions are bourn out of them. Thinking about what is bothering me is a good start to sorting through it. But I don’t stop there.
Validate truths - Seeking some data to verify or nullify my worry is a good second step. Is what I am worrying about supported by anything? Or is it a fantasy of insecurity? Chances are there are at least a few nuggets of truth in my worry. I try to find the nuggets and dismiss the false gold.
Chat it out - Many times when I talk only to myself - in my head - it is not enough. Sometimes, talking only to myself too much makes it worse, and my worry rattles around in my head until it implodes into anger and helplessness. Talking a little about it helps sort through some valid reasons and solutions in an articulate form, rather than just moody ponderings bouncing around in my head.
Let it go - After I have taken a few easy steps, it is easier to move on from worry by doing something about what I've learned, or to toss it out with the rest of the incidentals of my day.
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