Make Sure There is a Legitimate Reason Before You Worry
Sometimes you just have to check-in with yourself
Yesterday found myself worrying so much. I felt as if the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Such a strange feeling because there was nothing wrong. I couldn’t think of any pressing issues.
My daughter had just started virtual Pre-Kindergarten. I woke up early to have everything set up for her. She had to use my computer for an hour to join her class.
I’m normally on my laptop around that time, writing my daily articles. Trying to view private notes and run my publication is a hassle on a phone. So it all made me a little irritated. Why hasn’t her school sent her Chrome book?
And then dealing with the stresses of life, relationship annoyances, and family nuisances. I felt worried about life in general but again I didn’t have a good reason to be worrying like that.
I was also frustrated with publications! Ugh! They can make me so irate! I had an editor reject an article simply because he’s tired of hearing about Shannon Ashley, Michael Thompson, and Tim Denning. Here is that article.
His feedback was to focus on emerging writers and not the ones everybody knows about. I felt why should an editor tell me who to write about?
That definitely added to my irritation. A lot was going on in my head but there was still nothing really wrong with me or with anybody I love. I was worrying and ruminating and it was ruining my morning — and my daughter’s first day too.
I caught myself and I did a quick check-in. I stopped, took a deep breath, and asked myself, “What is wrong, Kim? Why are you so worked up? What is the problem?”
I waited for a real reason to come up as to why I was feeling that way. My daughter using my laptop? Nope! I’m happy she's learning.
Not being able to be productive writing from my phone? A little but she will be done in an hour!
Editors? Yes, but he was obviously letting their personal feelings and opinions about others interfere with his judgment. It had nothing to do with my work.
Life? Sure, but the little stresses of life are inevitable and there is nothing to do about it.
There were are no real problems except the ones I was making up in my head.
After the check-in with myself, I found myself calming down. I realized I was worked up over nothing. None of those things was worth me worrying and stressing over. None of it was worth ruining my mood and my morning over.
Checking in with myself reminded me that it is easy for us to be worried and put ourselves in a bad mood even when there is nothing necessarily wrong.
After the check-in and a couple of deep breaths, I was able to bring myself back to the present moment. I cheered my daughter on as she learned, I handled my life affairs and published my rejected article.
And it was all good from there.
Sometimes we worry so much about nothing. Before you worry, it’s important to make sure there is a legitimate reason. Next time you find yourself stressed out, just do a quick check-in with yourself.
If there is a real problem, your body will let you know. And if you are worrying over nothing, it will become known to you.
Checking in with myself reminded me that it is easy for us to be worried and put ourselves in a bad mood even when there is nothing necessarily wrong.
Do you sometimes find yourself worrying for no good reason? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
For further reading: