The suffering of worry

How often do you feel like life is happening to you and you're just along for the ride? For many people, it's all the time.

But even though it feels that way, the truth is that we are creating our life, moment by moment, as we interpret what's happening around and to us.

​We're often not aware of the things we're doing that increase worry and anxiety. Habitually and consistently watching the news or mindlessly scrolling social media, for example, takes a toll on us, whether we realize it or not. 

​​The more we focus on scary or upsetting things that are beyond our control, it just makes sense that we will feel more anxious. It can make us feel powerless and it puts our nervous system on high alert. It then gets stuck there as worried thinking takes over.

If you have a tendency to worry, have you questioned why you do it, even though you know, deep down, it's not helpful? Simply speaking, it is a habit you have fallen into. And one that your mind fights to maintain.

​Initially, worry was something your mind started doing to try to help you feel more in control and to ease your emotional discomfort. Even if, over time, worry has caused suffering for you, the mind's initial intention was to be helpful and protective.

It took on the job of planning, plotting things out, imagining worst-case scenarios – always wanting to feel prepared for what may come. It is constantly looking for a sense of safety, and sometimes worrying meets that need. 

​You’ve given your mind something to do – to dwell and guess what comes next. But your mind can’t figure things out – that’s not possible. The mind is simply pulling from what it knows, what it has conditioned and programmed into it, and adding on some of what is actually going on. It will then start making up stories about what the future holds.

​When we believe the stories of our mind when it’s in worry-mode, it can be exhausting. At these times, it’s important to know that thinking is happening TO  you.

​Your conscious, rational mind is off-line and old, repetitive messages are coming up through your subconscious mind. It sounds like your voice, and you likely believe it is “you”. 

But that would be like saying you are intentionally beating your heart, digesting your food, or healing the cut on your hand. All these things are happening to you, but it’s not because you’re intentionally directing them.
​It is the exact same thing with worried thinking. It is happening TO you in that it is not a conscious choice.

​We cause suffering for ourselves when we allow our habit of worry to go unchecked. We rob ourselves of the peace that actually exists in the present moment. And we live out our worst fears in our minds, causing us to experience the very thing we’re worried about, or even terrified of, experiencing. 

​When we are running a “worry-program”, it might sound something like this: “what if gas prices keep going up and I can’t afford it? With my luck, my car will break down” or “if this happens, then I’ll do this, which means this will happen….” And on and on.

​The mind is trying to be helpful, but we are allowing ourselves to remain on high alert when we do not learn to take control of what happening inside of us.

​Worry can range from feeling uncomfortable to being debilitating. If you allow yourself to stay in a state of stress, with stress hormones pumping through your body, it negatively impacts every system that is vital to your health and well-being.
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​And beyond that, you can’t feel love, joy, or a healthy connection with others when your mind is in survival mode. It’s just not possible.

​People often say that they know it’s not helpful to worry but that they can’t stop. You can! It’s a choice. But that’s not to say it’s not a difficult habit to break. You are pulling away a barrier, a defense mechanism you have likely used for a long time to cope with uncomfortable feelings. 

Ask yourself, “do I want to continue to let my nervous system be negatively impacted in this way?” When your body is in stress-mode (which is what is happening when you worry), you remain in survival mode. Your body is on high alert, meaning it is unable to move to “Rest + Digest” mode or do all the things that keep us healthy.

​What can you do when you notice yourself falling into worry? First, try to acknowledge that it is your mind doing what a mind does. Remind yourself that it can't figure out the future. It will just tell scary stories in an effort to prepare you for the worst. ​

Along with seeing it on a conscious level, work with what you're feeling in your body. That is where your real power is.

Breathe. Practice grounding yourself by planting your feet on the floor (or adapting to what's possible for you, which could be feeling your back against the chair or even visualizing tree roots extending from the bottoms of your feet).

Getting caught up in a cycle of worry keeps us trapped in survival mode and limits our ability to experience positive emotions, like joy, hopefulness, confidence, enthusiasm, and more.

Worry is not who you are - it is just a habit that keeps you stuck. You CAN make changes that will allow you to feel more peace of mind and a heightened sense of wellbeing!

Learn More about a unique coaching approach that blends psychology, brain-science, and elements of spirituality

Author

Learn more about Bobbi Beuree, Halifax-based Coach + Facilitator