As we age, we look back at our lives and realize we spent a lot of time worrying about things. This is one of the biggest regrets people have as they age. You may struggle with this, too, but considering how much it costs our hearts, minds, and bodies, it really is not worth worrying so much. Tension, poor sleep, irritability, fatigue and general dissatisfaction with life are all tied to feeling overly worried. Most of what we worry about never happens, so what gives? Here are some tips to help you try to worry less and live in the present.
Tools and Tips
If you want to work on worrying less in the present moment, these are some of the ways to help you get started. They are tips you can try everyday, when worry starts to take over and you feel overwhelmed.
Calm Your Nerves
To get focused on release tension, it helps to focus on what is going right and what feels good right now. Mental tension can translate into physical tension which may lead to health problems down the road. Guided meditation and exercise are excellent ways of calming your nerves, getting centered, and focusing on what you can control in the present rather than worry about things outside your control.
Notice Belief Systems
When we worry, we take a belief system from the past and rev it into high gear. Often, we do not recognize what our mind is up to and we might be aware of feeling anxious and stressed but not realize we have some degree of choice in letting worries go. Awareness is the key to having choices in how we respond in times of stress. If you believe that worry is beneficial and helps you feel productive, then you are likely to worry more. Once you realize worry is not helpful, you can tone it down and focus on things that are productive like taking action on a goal to accomplish something positive.
Embrace Uncertainty
Worry is usually unfounded fears about what could happen or what may happen, not what will happen for sure. Most things that happen in life revolve around uncertainty. We are not always going to be able to predict what will happen so much of life is learning to let go. Embrace uncertainty and your life will feel much less stressful.
Live in the Present
Training in mindfulness everyday can help bring you to a place of peace in life. Expending mental energy on worry will only harm you in the here and now. Focus attention on the present by taking a walk, talking with a friend or finding ways to relax through yoga and meditation.
Face Fears
Worry is meant to protect us from fears but it can lead to dwelling on the past or future events that may never happen. Rather that sit in useless worry, practice deliberate acceptance and know that, with repeated practice, fears become less gripping as we confront them.
It takes practice and time to learn the art of worrying less. Oceanfront can help you confront worry head on about yourself or a loved one who may be struggling with addiction, mental health or concerns about anxiety and worry. We are licensed to help men who are struggling with addiction and want to find a serene, peaceful place for treatment. We will help you or your loved one get on the track to a healthy mind, body, and soul. Call us to find out how we can help you get started: 877-279-1777
