Anxiety is like guilt about the future. I can't fix the past, and I don't obsess over things I did or mistakes I made. The past is over, and that's not an issue.
However, I do obsess about the future, particularly with regard to the economy and work issues that relate to my personal security, retirement and well being.
My lesson I learned this week is to stop that. There's no point to solving problems that haven't happened yet. It's a waste of time and energy. The only problems that need handling are the ones here and now, and those are all solveable.
I need to have confidence. Confidence that when problems happen in the future, I will be able to solve them at the time. Confidence that my personal security is based on my attitude at the time, and not on any future planning or windfall.
I've solved every problem for 48 years. I got through college. I got married. I started a business. I got sued, audited, harrassed, and robbed. I got over that. I have the experience and knowledge to solve anything that comes up. I need to be confident that all this great experience will come to play when needed. There's no need to get anxious.
So from here on out; when I get anxiety, I need to stop my brain and say "I'm confident I'll handle the future when it arrives. What I need to focus on is now".
I hope this helps someone else too.
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