You sometimes get anxious about the future. Will I have enough money? Will I be ok in that meeting? Will my children be ok? If we’re honest, we all become anxious at times. I think anxiousness can be a thoughtfulness nudge, a prompt to think about what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. It’s a kind of spidey sense that can help us move forward, maybe even avoid pitfalls.
Sometimes we overthink and become overwhelmed, and the first signs might be the thoughts that won’t go away about the stuff we can’t control, the future.
Here are four tips for overcoming your anxiousness.
Write down everything you are thankful for.
Write a list of everything in your day that you are thankful for. It can be tricky when you’re in the thick of it, but it’s a beneficial exercise if you can do it. Start with small things; for example, oxygen is a good thing, and I’m thankful for it.
When you’re stuck for things to be thankful for, go for the obvious stuff. Practice thankfulness! Thankfulness helps you get some perspective on the goodness you have, and it sets you up for the next tip.
Sweat the small stuff.
Look for the small things. They are important. After you have written down what you’re thankful for, go over the list and admit that some things on your list might be real achievements.
Have you heard of the saying don’t sweat the small stuff? Well, in this case, I think you should spend some time thinking about the small stuff, The stuff you overlook. Find small areas where you do well and celebrate them. 👏🏻👏🏻
Write down your big picture aims for the future.
Write down your broad aims. I’m talking big picture stuff and go crazy. Write it down on a piece of paper and forget about it. Put it in a drawer somewhere, open it in a year. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised to see items ticked off.
Get it off your chest.
Sometimes just speaking to someone is a big help. See if you have a friend who can be a sounding board, someone that will listen without giving advice. Sometimes just speaking things out loud helps overcome anxiety about the future.
