During these uncertain times, it’s easy to worry about what the future holds. Worry often comes in the form of questions like: what if I lose my job? or what if people in my family get Covid-19?
Can’t Stop the Worry?
Neuroscientists confirm that our ‘primitive brains’ have a worry bias. This, unfortunately, makes people loop on bad thoughts that cause their immune system to suffer and their thinking capacities to get muddy.
Here’s a trick to refocus your mind in a constructive direction. Your creative mind wants to chew on something, and it will default to the negative if you don’t have a habit for turning it around.
It’s like your dog chewing on your best shoe. If you want the dog to let it go, you have to give her something else to chew on instead, like a bone. But if you try to get the shoe away from your dog, she will fight you for it. It’s the same with your creative mind. Instead of fighting with yourself to stop worry, try asking a positive version of the same question.
For example:
* What if I keep my job?
* What if my family stays healthy?
You may think this is a silly exercise but looping on negative possibilities is far more silly. Both use your imagination to explore possibilities that don’t yet exist. One creates an outcome you DON’T want and the other creates an outcome you DO want. And, as the old saying goes, what you focus on grows.
But Doesn’t Worrying Prevent Problems?
I come from a long line of professional worriers. Back when my father was alive, we called him, The Beacon of Doom. He was completely engrossed by all the fear-inducing stories in the media. I followed in his footsteps thinking that worrying kept me safe. It was a sign of intellectualism, realism, and “being sensible”. On the other hand, being positive meant you were naive or in denial. I came to realize that worrying was actually more naïve as it kept you unable to respond constructively.
Try it in the AM and the PM
Try this exercise in the AM and PM — first thing in the morning and last thing before bed. Start your worry with the words “What if…” then turn it around to the positive. and notice how your nervous system calms down and you start to think of solutions.
Try the extended version on paper for deeper results. Download and print out this What if Worksheet and try it for yourself.
About the Author
Carla Rieger is the CEO of The Artistry of Change Consulting Inc. and the Co-Founder of the MindStory Coaching Academy. For more free tools from Carla and her team click here.
Carla is a speaker at the May 26th InnovateWork online event. Learn more and register here.