Stop stirring it up!

[sinkwriter]

I just read this quote from Mark Twain:

I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.

I love that because it's a reminder to me that much of my anxiety is stirred up by ME. I worry about things, I worry about what might happen, what could happen, but hasn't actually happened yet. Or possibly ever will.

If I could learn to retrain myself to focus on the here and now and stop stressing about things that may never happen, I might save myself a hell of a lot of anxiety, fear and worry.

I might actually start to feel lighter, more present and positive.

Hmm... food for thought.

How about you? Do you unnecessarily stress yourself out, worrying about what's already past or what may never come to be? How do you stop?

Comments

[leucocrystal]

I do all of those things. Unfortunately, I am very bad about stopping any of them.

[ladymidath.livejournal.com]

I used to when I was younger, now I have learned to not stress so much. I think I learned that after having six kids. :-)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

That's the thing I feel is on repeat in my head and when I talk to my therapist: I find myself saying, "Yeah, I recognize that I do this. I know it's a behavioral pattern for me. I acknowledge it. But the real question is HOW do I STOP doing it?"

That is the source of frustration for me. Because after doing this kind of thing for so long, it's become so ingrained in my everyday behavior. Tough to stop.

I keep working on it... *sigh*

*HUGS you* We'll figure it out, Z. I know we will eventually.

[leucocrystal]

Heh, exactly. I've been talking through a lot of things lately myself, and identifying them is great, but really does nothing to solve the actual root problems... And it definitely is tough to stop doing things you've essentially been doing all your life.

*hugs back*