Stress Management and Mastery: Get an Ulcer or Get Moving

When we worry, we use our imagination to go into the future to some feared event, feel the emotions as if the event had already occurred, and then bring the lousy feelings back with us into the present.

That leaves us with a couple of choices: get an ulcer or get moving.

How to get an ulcer

• Worry. A lot. Raise it to an art form.
• Make sure to worry about things you can do nothing about. Or if you are worried about things you can do something about, make sure not to do anything about them.
• Let your worry cause you to live all of your moments in the future, miss the present of the present.
• Become a what if person. You know, what if this happens, what if that happens.....

How to get moving

• Make a distinction between worry and concern. Worry freezes you. Concern motivates you.
• Allow your worry and concern to motivate you to plan for the future. Remember, the best way to predict the future is to create as much of it as you can.
• Pray. Often.

Since worry is really nothing more than using our imagination in a negative way, turn the process on its head. Instead of vividly imagining the worst possible outcome, switch to vividly imagining the best possible outcome and/or the outcome you would like.

I've saved the best for last. The best cure I know of for worry is to take action.

Create a plan, plan for the future, do everything you can to prevent the negative outcomes that you do not want. And do everything you can to get the positive outcomes you want.

The neat thing here is that if you do all of the above to get moving, you won't have time or space in your brain to worry.

And my guess is you will enjoy life much more.