Worry. Stress. Anxiety. Fear. Insecurity. Hopelessness. Panic. These are some of the most common disorders faced by Americans (and probably westerners in general) today. The truth is that most of our fears are self-induced. We hold within our minds the power to defeat many (if not most) of the enemies which torment our mind.
Here are three tips on dealing with your fears and achieving emotional stability:
1. Consider Your Foundation
What is your purpose in life? What do you stand for? In what do you believe? These questions aren't intended to force any particular religion or philosophy upon you, but you must honestly consider those questions.
The ancient biblical writer James says that a person consumed by doubt on such a fundamental question of faith is "like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6, NKJV).
Don't go through life troubled and anxious over something so fundamental and basic as the very purpose of your life and the very reason why you are here.
There is tremendous evidence for the existence of the supernatural. What you do with that evidence is of course up to you. But do not avoid this journey. The amount of faith you have (and the integrity of your faith) speaks to the very foundation of your life.
2. Fuel Yourself with Positive Resources
Too many people go through life without any conscious consideration of what goes into their minds. Don't let this be the case with you. Pay attention to what goes into your mind, and take action to make sure that it's the right stuff.
This entails a wide range of things from television to music to books to conversations. If you spend most of your life listening to angry music, participating in gossip, and/or feeding bad mental addictions, then what do you think will happen?
You need to dwell on positive thoughts. And consciously fill your mind with positive and constructive input. It takes discipline and time, but the rewards are well worth it.
3. Learn to Control Worry
Notice that you can't control worry....tomorrow. But you can begin the process of learning to control worry. How? For one thing, consider your personality type. Chances are that, if you are a worrier, your personality type is partly to blame. If you know this, then that information can help you compensate and deal with it accordingly.
Another strategy is to relinquish mental "control" over those things for which you have no real control. Much of what we worry about is beyond our control anyway. Example: You can't control what other people think. So, don't worry about what they think. You can't control the weather. So, don't try.
Last in the "control worry" tip category....Act, don't react. That's worth repeating. Act -- don't react. What does that mean? Simple: Make conscious, deliberate choices to LEAD your life. Don't let life (and the other people in your life) take YOU for a ride.
For more information on defeating worry, check out this blog site. Good luck!
