After watching the evening news, it is easy to feel anxiety begin to build as you worry about the future. Someone has said that “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, but only saps today of its strength.”

Why worry about yesterday? It is past and cannot be changed. If we spend the present worrying about the future, we are emotionally drained and sapped of our energy.

This does not mean that we should have no concern for what awaits us tomorrow, but what we need to understand is that there is a difference between worry and concern. All a worried person does is see the problem, while the concerned person takes constructive steps to address the problem.

Let me share a couple of things that I’ve heard about worry over the years. Worry is:
• Interest paid on trouble before it comes due
• As worthless as a handle on a snow ball
• Is spiritual short-sightedness, and the cure is intelligent faith
• “The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.” Robert Frost

If left unattended, worry can morph into a nasty case of anxiety. In the book, Anxiety Free, the author shares four rules to help in the management of anxiety.

Rule #1—See Things Realistically
• Be realistic not pessimistic
• When making predictions, focus on facts not feelings
• Focus on probabilities not possibilities

Rule #2—Normalize Consequences
• False alarms are not the same thing as reality
• You don’t die from obsessions, panic, or fear

Rule #3—Let Go of Control (You don’t need to control every aspect of your life)

Rule #4—Embrace Your Anxiety
• Seek out experiences that make you anxious
• Accept reasonable risk
• Stay in it as long as possible

When it comes to our emotions, I’m a firm believer that you either control your emotions or they control you.
Think About It!