RESET YOUR WORRY THERMOSTAT

‘WORRY’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘divided mind’.

That is what worry feels like — a stream of thoughts pulling you in different directions.

It also has a purpose. Just like any negative or uncomfortable emotion, worry is a messenger sent by your mind and body to let you know it’s time to pay attention to something.

So, for example, if I have a worrying feeling and I stop to notice what comes to mind and, say, it’s the image of an upcoming meeting, my mind is trying to alert me to things that might go wrong in that meeting and to make sure I am well prepared.

The problems come when your worry thermostat is set too high, making life uncomfortable.

This exercise is a brilliant tool that will help you reset your worry thermostat. Read the instructions, below, all the way through first, then work through each step:

1. THINK about something you have been worrying about.

2. ASK yourself: ‘What is the positive intention of this worry of mine?’ Often, the answer is ‘to keep me safe’ or ‘so I’m properly prepared’.

3. FOCUS on three new ways that you could think about this without triggering the stressful feelings.

4. QUESTION whether you are comfortable with this alternative to worrying. If there is any hesitation, go back to your mind and ask it to sort out any internal conflicts.

You will know you’re ready to move on when feeling completely at peace with your alternatives.

5. PICTURE yourself doing the things that are keeping you safe, or mean you are well prepared, instead of worrying about what might or might not happen in the future.

With practice, you will soon be applying this simple method to any source of anxiety in your life, keeping your worry thermometer in check.