I admit I worry about everything. We all worry but there comes to a point when worrying about something is helpful or may actually be holding you back. It’s important to clearly differentiate between the two. Do you constantly worry? Or does it seems that no matter how hard you try not to worry, the dreaded thoughts of undesired possibilities and outcomes loom over your head? Well, it’s not just you because everyone worries. Even those who seem to have everything worry.  

Excessively worrying about something is living in fear of what may or may not happen in the future. When you’re constantly worried about the future you are not being present as to what is happening right now. I feel that to feel truly blessed and thankful for everything in your life, you must be fully present. Being fully present leads to being happy. 

Too much worrying can lead to physical and psychological problems such as decreased immune system, anxiety, and depression.

Here are few things I do when I feel myself start to worry about things that I especially know I have no control over:
1. Give five minutes a day to worrying. If the same thoughts creep up outside the allotted time, you have to banish them because you have already given them enough energy for the day. You can think about these thoughts again tomorrow during their appointed time. Fill the rest of the day will happy and thankful thoughts.  Focus on what is happening NOW.    

2. Exaggerate your worry and take it to the very end. Imagine the event you are concerned about actually happening and take it the very extreme. When you’ve reached the end, ask yourself if it is really as bad as you had imagined. It also gives you the opportunity to see how much time you wasted worrying about what MIGHT happen, rather than spending your valuable time on what is ACTUALLY happening.

I have been through many traumatic and scary experiences in my life. Worrying about them would not have changed how I handled them and it would only have robbed me of moments that I would not get back.

Worrying and preparing are two different things, so do not confuse the two. Rather than focusing on the “what if’s”, focus on solutions. Nothing productive comes from worrying.

With love and fitness, Dr. Natalie Pennington