No, I’m not talking about David Ball’s 1994 country hit, although that song was an absolute banger.
I’m talking about the habit a lot of us share of letting our minds wander off to unconstructive places: worrying about the future, dwelling on past mistakes, over-analyzing a difficult conversation we should just have. It all adds up to the same thing: bad stress.
Don’t get me wrong. We should prepare for the future, learn from our mistakes, and handle tough situations tactfully. We just don’t need any of it taking over our lives. And when our minds do wander, wouldn’t it be nicer if they wandered somewhere pleasant most of the time?
Easier said than done, right? Maybe not.
I hate long, complicated steps, mostly because they’re impossible to remember and partly because I’m lazy. So I came up with something simple. When my mind is full of worries, here’s how I rein it in:
First, identify the real issues. Without dwelling on any one of them, I make a quick mental list of everything real and present that I’m facing. 99% of the time, the list is a LOT shorter than my worrying brain assumed. Just seeing what’s really going on takes the edge off.
Then, plan for the worst, hope for the best. For each real issue, I briefly picture the worst possible outcome, then the best. The worst almost never happens, and reality usually lands somewhere in the middle. With a plan in place, there’s nothing left to worry about.
3. Relax. We’re done! There are no hidden issues lurking around the corner, and every real one has a plan. No more question marks floating over our heads. Our brains have every excuse to relax.
To keep it short and sweet: Identify the real issues, plan for the worst, hope for the best, then relax.
Got troubles on your mind right now? Give this a shot! Your thinkin’ problem with thank you.
Warm regards,
Jimerson Adkins