5 Keys to Lock Your Worries Away

“Don’t worry. Be happy!”

When we hear of yet another bad news story, tragedy or disaster, the words to this little song can sound very hollow. Worrying gets things done. Worry ensures that we get up in the morning. Worry pays the bills. But some people go through life completely worry-free. What’s their secret? Here are some suggestions:

1. Accept that there are some things you do not control

We all like to have these ideas of grandeur. We get so wrapped up in our own little bubble of busy activity, to-do lists and looking after the family, we can easily forget that whilst it’s very admirable to have concern for others, there are some things which you can have no bearing on.

The recent flu pandemic is proof of that. I made the mistake of asking my dad about flu two years ago after I came across some historical piece about death rates in previous flu outbreaks. My dad’s a microbiologist so he knows a bit about bugs. When he told me that we were over-due a flu pandemic and professionally, he was worried about it, it started to get me a bit hot under the collar. I have three children under the age of 10. Having already read about mortality rates in children you can imagine what my over-active imagination did with that little piece of information

Did my worrying have any bearing on the pandemic when it eventually hit? Other than buying enough toilet rolls to equip half a British regiment, was there anything I could do to prepare? All I did was add a few grey hairs and wrinkles. What a waste of energy!

2. Focus on one day at a time

Previous posts have talked about the value of enjoying each moment of every day but never is this more true than when trying to combat a worrisome outlook. My mum knows what I’m like and when I start fretting she often reminds me that we’ll get the strength to cope with whatever we need to cope with when we need to cope with it. What we’re not given is the strength to cope with the possibility of having something to cope with

3. Prepare

Having acknowledged the need to take each day at a time, there are still some things that it pays to prepare for. If I take the family to France on holiday without adequate travel insurance and one of us breaks an arm, how foolish am I going to look when I explain that I didn’t take out insurance because I only wanted to focus on the present? Similarly, if I don’t buy provisions for the children’s packed lunch boxes next week, how happy are they going to be with an empty plastic tub?!

Make a list of the important things that need to be done to keep you and your family safe, clean and fed. Set the appropriate actions in place and then relax. Having these provisions in place, just in case the worst should happen, can allow you to continue your day, minute by minute. You don’t need to worry about what you will do if the car breaks down when you’re travelling home from work. You can sleep soundly knowing that you are safe should you accidentally catch your hand on a rusty nail. If your beloved Rover cuts his foot and needs stitches, you don’t need to worry about receiving a nasty shock when the bill is due.

4. Believe that you are part of a bigger story

Having recognised that there are some things that you can’t control, seeing yourself as just one piece of a bigger picture can be an invaluable key to locking your worries away once and for all. You were put on this earth with a plan and a purpose for your life. You might not know what that purpose is yet or you may be able to see just a small part of the plan but know this: your life is not an accident. You are not a mistake. Every single thing that you go through in life is part of a bigger overall picture. Put your preparations in place and live each day in the present but remember that whatever happens next, it all adds to the story.

5. Over to you …

In case you missed it the other day, here is Nick Vujicic again. He is happy. He does not worry. Maybe he can help us find our final key for locking away worries?