4 Ways to Worry Less and Be Happier Now

Why do we worry? It doesn’t make us a more compassionate, caring, or loving person. It doesn’t make us smarter, luckier, or happier. Worrying is actually stressful, distracting and can cause us to become physically sick. So, what do we worry about? How can we stop worrying so much?

Most worries fall into one of four categories: Money, Health, Work, or Love. These categories include the health or well being of a loved one or ourselves. Our financial situation/work situation, and/or our current romantic relationships and family/friend relationships. That really is most of our lives. So how can we be happier and more relaxed when there’s so much to worry about?

Here’s a few ideas that help me to keep worries at bay so that I can focus more fully on my family and my goals and dreams.

1. Keep busy. I know that sounds strange but focusing your worry energy elsewhere can make you feel better, more in control, and give you a sense of accomplishment. Exercise or a project that I’ve been putting off is usually a great way for me to refocus my energies.
2. Acknowledge and accept the things that you cannot possibly control. This one is huge for me. I have to acknowledge that bad things can happen no matter what I do, or how much I worry. So I focus on having a safe car, good tires, staying healthy, providing heathy food for my family, and making sure that we have our regular medical and dental check-ups. I do preventative things as my regular schedule and it makes it easier for me to let the worry go because I can acknowledge that I am doing everything that I can for me and my family.
3. Write your worries down or talk to someone. Writing or talking with someone about your worries can help you put them in perspective and that enables you to take action to lessen your worries and stress. It also lets you see where maybe you are letting your imagination run away with you a little.
4. Lastly, focus on the good things happening in your life right now. The things that are going right. This helps me to calm down if I’m worried and again put my worries into a framework that I can deal with with one of the steps above.

Here are a few tools that may help you in your journey to less worry.

“This beautiful, undated hardcover journal with 52 listing prompts encourages readers to reflect, acknowledge, and invest in themselves, and ultimately transform their lives by figuring out exactly what makes them happy.”

“In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.”

And the current book that I am reading,

“With painful honesty and fearless humor, Rachel unpacks and examines the falsehoods that once left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy, and reveals the specific practical strategies that helped her move past them.”

Have a Great Day!

Dottie Lake

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