How To Stop Worrying

We worry so much about lots of things that turn out never to happen... How can we stop?

FURTHER READING

“We spend a lot of our lives worrying but one of the basic things we almost never remember to do is to go back and check how our worries fared against reality.

For example, one week, we might be worried about running out of money; the next of being sued by a contractor at work; the third about having offended a friend, the fourth of being brought down by a rumour on social media and the fifth about leaving out something key from our tax returns.

The worries go on and on, shifting relentlessly from one target to another - ruining our precious time on earth in the process.

What we seldom ever get around to doing - once the event is past - is pausing to compare the scale of the worry with what actually happened in the end. We are too taken up with the next topic of alarm ever to return for a composed audit…”

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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Léon Moh-Cah

Title animation produced in collaboration with

Graeme Probert

[oftenwrong.]

Worrying is like setting in a rocking chair. It doesn’t get you anywhere but it gives you something to do

[Kemo___]

It reminds me of a step in cognitive behavioural therapy. One that involves thoroughly delineating your fears prior to a situation that you fear, and consciously opposing each of those fears afterwards when none of them was realised. Repeatedly you would learn that your fears often are outlandish and absurd.

[erinsuzy]

Thank you. I like how kid friendly this is. A "worry audit" would make a good worksheet for my son who has high anxiety issues. Ill have to try this with him.

[SearchOfSelf]

My mind is a master of creating its own horror stories

Thanks for reminding me of this!

[fkmyoutube]

As a chronic worryer, I 100% agree with this video.

Looking back into my own life, I worry about the future alot, and 99% of the time, it usually doesn't turn out to be true.

However, does it stop me from worrying when I realize this? Not completely, but am learning how to worry less.

One part of my mind tells me that because of my worries, my mind already plays out multiple scenarios that might happen, and I have the ready response to it.

But it's mentally tiring to keep worrying like that. I want peace and happiness.

So I will tell myself if it does become bad, then I will face it when the time comes to cross that bridge and deal with it.

And another thing is, recently I found God again after being an atheist, and I surrender my worries and burden to God. I know some might not believe this, but this is from my personal experience.

I ask Him to guide me in my life, and if something doesn't quite go as planned, I ask for wisdom to guide me through it. I have found peace knowing am not alone in this journey of life.

[cervgiovanni]

My mantra during these audits: I have been here before. As in, I've been at a stressful event and it's always gone fine.

[oneworldonehome]

Thank you very much for this wonderful short video! I would like to share with you a very lovely quote about worry and fear that I find very useful. It comes from Wisdom from the Greater Community, a free MV Summers book.

"When you are very upset, very distressed or very angry, stop and say, “Ah! I am afraid right now.” It is this recognition that is important. “I am afraid.” Often this is enough to disengage you from your distress or to give you a greater perspective while you are in distress. You recognize you are afraid. “At this moment I am afraid.” Having this recognition brings you into your experience. Otherwise, you will simply demonstrate the results of your fear because fear is very captivating."

[Ckyt]

I'm so tired of being constantly worried. About the past, about the future. About everything 😢

[kgreene]

Nope. My worries more often than not come to fruition. But it's never the end, I'm just back at the bottom of the hill, again and again and again.

[annarouse]

What happens when a worry audit shows that your worries are exactly in line with reality, or worse, a lot LESS than what actually happened?

[ivanstrydom]

I have only ever had two deep, intense fears ... and one of them became true.. twice and it was rather world shattering.

[a.l.]

We can choose what to think about. As I learned this I stopped worrying. Has improved my life greatly.

[andrewschultz]

I remember leaving too many browser tabs open (lots of news stuff) and checking them out a month later. Some no longer seemed relevant. Some were still useful, and some news stories had been put in context. It was illuminating.

[ryan_s]

I do this all the time unfortunately. Anxiety is an old friend. But I try to remember some of this good counsel:

Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings. -Shakespeare’s Macbeth

We suffer more in imagination than in reality…and he who fears suffering already suffers from his fear. -Seneca

[shreyashah]

Loved the way things are explained and hats off to the hours of work for such a beautiful animation to support your explaination!! ❤

[ABCDuwachui]

You’re speaking the truth today!! Amen! God bless ya, and God bless our blessings!

[pimeto]

Now i have to worry if what i worry about is something from the 4%

[timeenuf]

Can't remember who said it but I strongly believe that worry is a waste of imagination. When worry sneaks into my mind I try to think of more imaginative ways to cogitate on whatever issue raised the worry.I simply think a better thought You get what you focus on.

[niamhjennings]

My anxiety has always been an issue for me. I’ve made a fool of myself many times vocalising the things I was worried about. My mind is always busy. I wish I could turn it off sometimes. Sleep is the only rest I get from it, and even then I get nightmares.

[rosandabaraz]

The way the subject was exposed was great, even more if we consider the video duration. I have a few questions like that and, unfortunally, in my case, I suffered for many years worring about something that had enormous chances of happening (while I was doing everything to avoid it) and it did happen after so many time, finally. Anyway, some months ago I found TSOL (again) and all the content you create is awesome. Thank you for make such a signifficant work with this level of quality. I hope you keep doing it and gain even more success by growing and helping.