What is ‘worry’? Well, as described by Corrie ten Boom, “Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.”
So when we’re worried about something, two things are going on…
First, we are clearly afraid of some situation or result. Big or small, it’s a concern that we focus on in the middle of the night or that occupies us during the day.
Second, our thinking is negative because we haven’t got enough information OR the right information.
What happens then? The fear feeds the negative thinking AND the negative thinking feeds the fear.
Action – Just as there are two parts to worry, there are two parts to the solution.
First, as you feel worry bubbling up, begin to challenge the thoughts that are feeding it.
And second, proactively gather the information you need to fill in the knowledge gaps that are causing the inefficient thoughts.
And the more you truly know, the more able you are to quell the fear.