We all worry about things from time to time. The consequences of choices we've made, or ones that we're about to, often send our minds into overdrive. But there are a few simple steps that we can all take to reduce the power that worrying has over us.
Here are five ways that you can tackle worry everyday.
Sleep on it
Worry often strikes at night, just before we go to sleep when we're alone with our thoughts (how convenient!) Psychologists recommend that we make a physical note of the things that are on our mind (this is meant to free up some headspace) and then try and go back to sleep. In many cases, the things we worry about aren't so scary in the morning and we discover our worry was really a knee-jerk reaction. When you wake, you can better deal with them as you're well rested, or you might even discover that tiredness was much to blame and they're not such a big deal after all. The best way to utilize the power of sleep in dealing with your worry is to make sure you pray to God just before you go to bed. If you give your worry to Him, it's in the best possible hands and you can rest assured in the knowledge that even while there is nothing you can do about it at this point in time, God is already doing something to help you address it when the time is right.
Put it into context
Having someone respond to an issue you're tearing your hair out over with "It's not the end of the world" isn't overly helpful. Yes, they may be right. OK, they are right. But that doesn't mean your concerns aren't valid. If we reacted to every unjust or problematic situation with "it's not the end of the world" and this reduced issues to the point of insignificance, we'd never get anything done. However, putting your worry into context doesn't have to mean dismissing it entirely. Doing so will actually help you decide how to respond effectively to it and figure out whether it's worth working yourself up over at all. Next time someone says "it's not the end of the world", ask them to elaborate and see if they can offer you a different perspective on your situation. The things that we're wrapped up in can often look very different to someone else and if we apply that to our faith, they probably look very different to our almighty Father God. So get someone else's perspective and, importantly, pray to get God's perspective.
Talk to someone about it
We all feel better about whatever is bothering us when we share it with someone we trust. Avoid offloading your worries to fellow notorious worriers as this will just intensify your concerns. Instead, confide in someone who is good at allaying your fears and helping you find solutions and perspective. This can be God, a friend, a work colleague, or anyone you feel comfortable with.
Keep some Bible verses handy
If you're a serial worrier, you couldn't be blessed with a better tool of comfort. The Bible has more than 100 mentions of the phrase "fear not" or an equivalent. You don't need to copy out or memorise each one but pick a few to bookmark, save as your phone wallpaper or stick on Post-its around your house or desk. Refer back to them when you're worrying and they'll help remind you why you needn't.
Here are a couple that you might like to include:
Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Come to terms with not having control over everything
Most of the time our worries stem from a fear of the unknown. When we have no idea what the outcome of an course of action or event will be and are desperate to know, we tend to start worrying. Accepting that we won't always know how things will turn out, and that that's OK, is essential if we're going to live a life where we're not a slave to worry. One way you can do this is by reading God's word and reminding yourself that he is in control and he has a plan for you. You can also remember a time when God has blessed you in a way that went above and beyond your expectations.
