How To Stop Worrying & Start Living

I’ve always been a worrier in one way or another. When I was a little kid I’d be scared to get up at night because I thought there was someone outside my bedroom door ready to chop my head off. Dark, I know!

Then as an older child I had this wardrobe with two little knobs for handles. I used to wind a piece of string around those knobs at night to make sure that if there were any monsters in there, they wouldn’t be able to get out.

As I got older and into my 20s, I would worry about this, worry about that, I can’t even remember what I worried about. When I look back I can’t imagine that I really had anything to worry about. But we all have something, no matter who we are, where we are and what circumstance you are in. And that’s what matters. Your worries are real to you.

So today, I thought I’d share a book that really helped me. I bought it in my 20s. It’s called “How to Stop Worrying & Start Living”. It’s written by Dale Carnegie who was the man who also wrote ‘“How to Win Friends & Influence People”. He was a very wise man!

So this book is his lesser known work but I’ve found it to be packed full of fantastic methods to, well, stop worrying and start living!

The one that helped me is one of the first in the book and he calls it a ‘Magic Formula for Solving Worry Situations’.

Here’s the formula:

Step 1: Analyse the situation fearlessly and honestly and figure out what is the WORST that could happen to you as a result of this problem / situation / issue.

Step 2: After figuring out what the worst that could possibly happen, reconcile yourself to it happening, IF NECESSARY.

Step 3: From that time on, calmly devote your time and energy into improving upon the worst that you are expecting mentally.

Out of all his methods - are there are loads - I’ve found this to be the most helpful. I guess a useful summary would be, ‘what’s the worst that could happen and what would you do’.

I’m not sure that would have worked with the monster in the wardrobe but for most of my worries now, it certainly helps.

I hope that helps you. And remember, if you do have worries, don’t worry alone. A problem shared is often a problem halved.

Take care of yourself. You are worth it!

Tracy