Madeleine Morgan from Growu writes:
Do we need worry?
It depends.
In life we need to minimise the number of times nasty surprises, unnecessary risks and problems arise in our lives. Worry can help to alert us that those situations might crop up. But it’s what we do about our worries that make that alert useful or not.
If we spin round in a helpless vortex of anxiety, scaring ourselves with catastrophising and focussing on what we don’t want to happen so that we feel paralysed and overwhelmed in the face of it, it’s definitely a useless activity.
And…if you’re working or living with a Worrier…it can feel like they put a damper on morale. It can be tempting to dismiss their worries, if you’re feeling impatient. Whereas if you’re trying to show you care, you may attempt to reassure them that there is nothing to worry about. Both of those strategies tend to leave the Worrier feeling that YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION.
However, sensible risk management can start with a worry and people who act like the ‘canaries in the mine’ can be valuable family, friends and team members, especially if you or the rest of the team is prone to under-estimate risk.
Use a Worry Antidote
If you are worrying about something, here are 7 steps to neutralising many of your worries:
- Write down what is worrying you. By expressing it and clarifying it on paper you will probably find you feel calmer and more objective about it.
- Write down what is the worst thing that could happen
- Decide to accept the worst e.g. ‘If…happens, I’ll handle it.’
- Describe what you’d like to happen instead of the worrying outcome.
- Explore all your options for preventing the worst happening and bringing about what you really want.
- Choose your best course of action
- Take action. After all, worry is often fear caused by indecision so get busy doing something about your situation… then you don’t have time to worry.
As you take action, your confidence, courage and sense of control will return.
If you’re living or working with a Worrier, give them the task. Ask them to find out all the things that could go wrong. Then work with them to analyse the real risk and take action to mitigate it.
What personal, career or business worries could you handle with this worry antidote? How could you get the best out of the Worriers in your life?
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