I'm a worrier. I've always been a worrier. One of those people who over think about things all the time, thinking about different scenarios in their heads and letting themselves get wound up over things that don't really matter. So your partner didn't pick up his phone when you called him, what is he doing, why is he never there when you need him? Your friend had a very annoyed tone in her message, have you said something to her to make her upset? Your boss said some snappy comment about some petty issue this morning and you're letting it bother you for the rest of the day.You go to bed at night, tossing and turning for a good hour thinking about a solution to a problem that really does not deserve to be called a problem. You think of a good sarcastic response to you partner when he finally calls you back with some pathetic excuse why he didn't call you back until now, or you think of a comment to say to your boss the next time she has some clever remark to make. But the problem is... when a similar kind of situation arises again, you realise that your smart responses and reactions are really just not that smart and you're better off just letting it go.
Yep this was me. Until I adopted my new attitude called I-Don't-Care. Yes, I get annoyed about things at work, or with friends, or in my relationship or those loud teenage boys on the bus at 7.30 am with their foul language and bullying comments towards each other. But I'm working on it really hard not to let it get to me, there's much more important things in life to focus your energy on. Don't get me wrong, I still complain and have that occasional rant at my friends over things that drive me up the wall, but that's just normal( what else can you expect - Finnish people are quite famous for their negative attitude and complaining how everything is just wrong, and my adopted nationality Brits aren't that much better!)
Obviously if the problem is something that you can change, something that you can have a direct effect on, you shouldn't just accept it. If you are not happy about your job, search for a new one. If you're not comfortable in your looks or your weight, change it. Take a risk, if it does not work, hey ho it's not like you missed out on anything. Even that awful fringe I had cut, to comply my black bob haircut 6 years ago, which made me look like I was Japanese, grew out eventually!(Note to myself : NEVER cut a thick, straight fringe again)
All that energy you used to use for worrying can be used for something much more rewarding. Challenge yourself a little bit! You can start with small things, like do a good deed every day : open the door to the person in front of you, smile to the cashier in your local store, help the woman dragging her baby and a pram up the stairs on the Underground or help the old lady carry her shopping across the busy road(but do remember to hand the bag back to her at the end, unlike some guy who I read about who only realised at home that he had taken the poor lady's shopping with him!) Or spend a whole evening home alone without logging onto any social media at all, I guarantee it's much harder than you'd think. I fail miserably every time I try...
Eventually you can set yourself bigger challenges - set a goal amount that you want to save on your savings account, run a 10k charity run, go on that dream holiday or lose that 10 pounds that you just can't seem to able to get rid off.
Also, find a way to relax your mind with. For some it might be yoga, meditation, good music or cooking. For me it has lately been either slightly OCD habit of arranging things in my wardrobe and drawers(and throwing away 7 years worth of unnecessary clutter) or the brilliant invention of colouring books for grown ups and a pack of felt tip pens. A half an hour of colouring and I'm good to say good bye to worries of the world.
I saw a great quote the other day which came to my mind when I was carrying an umbrella the other day, wondering whether the drizzle is worth an umbrella or should I just let my hair get slightly wet -
"Worrying is stupid, it's like walking around with an umbrella waiting for the rain to start."
What's your way to escape from your worries?
This is me all over!
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