How Can I Plan for the Future Without Worrying?
You can plan for the future without worrying by taking the steps you need to plan for a threat, without the excessive emotional reaction. Watch clinical psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, explain how to keep worries from getting out of control.
Transcript
So, worrying and planning are not the same thing.
Worrying is the emotional reaction that what you think may happen is imminent. You emotionally react as if it's already happening.
Here's the thing, I used to live in Dallas, Texas, and in Dallas, Texas in August, it is hot-- 100 degrees out.
But come January, it gets pretty cold. So let's say it's August. It's 100 degrees out. I come into my office where you're sitting,
and I've got a parka on and boots, a hat, and scarf. What would you say to me? You'd say I was crazy, but what if I said I'm just
getting ready for January? That makes no sense at all. I'd be sweating for four months without needing to.
That's what worry is. It's putting your winter coat on in summer. Here's the thing, it's good to have a winter coat.
It's good to have a winter coat in the closet but not wearing it. So what does that mean for you? It means, instead of emotionally reacting as if that worry--
as if that threat-- is going to happen, take the steps that you need-- just in case it does happen-- without the excessive emotional reaction.
meditation
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