Things You'll Need:
- An open mind and a willingness to make your life healthier and better
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Step 1
First, name whatever it is that is bothering you. When you do this, it helps to take away the power and hold that this thought has over you. Whenever something is bothering me, keeping me up at night, I try to take time and ask myself, "What in the world is bothering me? What is it that is keeping me awake?" In order to solve any problem, be it physical, mental or spiritual, one has to give a name to it.
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Step 2
Then, ask yourself, "Am I making this bigger than I should?" "Is this concern really that scary or threatening to me?" When you do this, you will find, in most cases, that the problem is not that worrysome or threatening.
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Step 3
Next, make time to worry about it. This may sound strange but when you make time to focus on a worry, you categorize the worry and make "an appointment" with it, and this helps because you only make time for it, according to your schedule.
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Step 4
Then, laugh at it! This may sound silly but when you can laugh at something in your life that is worrying you, you can trivilize it and make it much smaller than it is.
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Step 5
Next, put a halt to the worrying! Just stop doing it and think of something else. By thinking of something else--something more positive and productive, it will help your mind and body to focus on areas that are progressive and helpful to your life.
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Step 6
Then, think of ways in which you can change the problem or concern that is on your mind. If you can't think of anything to change or end the problem, then leave it be! Why worry about something or someone, if you can't do anything about it? It's useless and takes up too much of your time. Perhaps the problem will be taken care of by someone else, may be eliminated all together or end up being nothing at to worry about. I often think back to the many situations in which I worried and remember that 95% of the time, the problem was solved before I needed to do anything about it or it ended up being nothing to worry about at all. (I hate to go to the gynecologist and used to worry a lot before the appointment but now, except for meeting a new doctor, say to myself, "O.K. I know I hate this but it's for my good health, it's only once a year and for 20 to 30 minutes and if it doesn't go well, so what? No one is perfect--no doctor, patient, person or whatever! So, if it doesn't go well, who cares? Besides, what matters is keeping in good health...
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Step 7
Then, learn from what happened. Like my appointment with the gynecologist, I know it's going to be uncomfortable and anxiety-ridden but I also know that it won't last long and it will help to keep me healthy. So, since I know all that, why worry? And if need be, I can always find another Doctor. End of story...
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Step 8
And, if you go through a bad experience, or one that was disruptive, learn from it. See if you can find another way, another situation or person who can better help you. Or, if necessary and doesn't affect your health, skip the experience and possibly write about it. Writing about an unpleasant experience, can help greatly.
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Step 9
Learn to forgive and forget! To me, this step is the most important for when we forgive and forget, we are able to move on with our lives and focus on more positive and productive thoughts.
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Step 10
Ask yourself, too, what is the absolute worst thing that could happen to me when I go through this experience? Doing this helps so much because when you do this, you will find that nothing major will happen--nothing that you can't handle.
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Step 11
Lastly but most importantly, when your worries and concerns overwhelm you--and actually this should be done first--is to give it all to God. Put it at His feet and say, "God, I don't want this in my life. Please take it away and give me peace. I just don't want this concern/worry in my life." When you do this, the burden will lift and He will show you a way--provide a pathway for you that you didn't see before..
