In the movie, Bridge of Spies, lawyer James Donovan represents convicted Soviet KGB spy Rudolf Abel during the Cold War. At his sentencing, Donovan asks Abel, “Are you worried?”
Abel replies innocently, “Do you think that would help?”
Of course not! So then why do we worry? It’s our reaction to a perceived threat. And without the ability to fight or flee that threat, we get stuck in torturous thought.
A Harvard study recently revealed that 47% of our time is spent lost in thought. Instead of being engaged in our current activity or the immediate surroundings, we ruminate about the past and worry about the future.
The problem with worrying? We focus on uncontrollables, fear the uncertainty, and fixate on the nonpresent.
Here are 3 ways to Worry Like a Warrior:
1. Converge on Controllables.
Worrying about that which we cannot control is wasted time and energy. Watching the news, for example, reinforces our helplessness which then increases the intensity and impact of our worrying. We can sympathize with those who suffer without also suffering. Instead of worrying about an uncontrollable, let’s think about ways we can make a difference and express our sympathy.
2. Change Lost-in-Thought Time to Process-in-Thought Time.
Some activities are prone to auto-pilot. When I walk my dog, I have blocks of lost-in-thought time. But when I intentionally set out on my walk with an identified problem to solve or a situation to prepare for, my lost-in-thought time becomes process-in-thought time.
3. Practice Shisa Kanko
This Japanese skill cultivates our mindfulness by stimulating our five senses, forcing us to stay connected to immediate activities. Literally it means checking and calling, and that simple act aligns our thoughts and actions, making mind-wandering almost impossible.
When over half of our lives are spent in our thoughts, we are best served to make them valuable thoughts!
