What's The Use Of Worrying?

By Dr Neil Flanagan  |   Submitted On March 08, 2016

When we were writing our bestsellers Just About Everything a Manager Needs to Know, The Management Bible, and Management Essentials, we researched many areas. In one instance, we found that more than 80% of things people worried about, they have little or no control over: they couldn't do anything to influence the outcome or it didn't happen. It was as Michel de Montaigne noted, 'My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened'.
It seems that, even though people know worrying is a health hazard, accelerates ageing, and makes their paintwork show signs of wear 'n' tear, they still do it. As Shakespeare's Hamlet observed, 'There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so'.
Recommending change has been around for more than 2,000 years. Epictetus, for example, told us that it's not what happens to us but what we do about it that matters most: response matters most.
I could advise not to worry, but instead, how about responding differently during these three everyday life situations.

1. When the world seems black and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, ask yourself what's the absolute worst that could happen? Considering a worst-case scenario can help to make a molehill out of a mountain.


2. When something happens over which you have no control, never let it upset you: remain calm. Traffic delays, tossing tantrums at others for their traffic breaches, or standing in a queue, are just some examples. Allowing yourself to become upset by stuff over which you have limited or no control is a waste of energy.


3. When someone behaves in a particular way or something happens that doesn't match your expectations, ask yourself who really owns the problem? Having expectations is normal, but realise that the problem could be your expectation.

If you've lived long enough, you'll know that worrying is a waste of time and energy. Rarely are things as bad as at first thought. One hundred and fifty years ago William James said, 'If you believe that feeling bad or worrying long enough will change the past or future events, then you are residing on another planet'.

You can have your say about anything in this article when you visit http://www.neil.com.au and while you're there download a free copy of one of Neil's bestselling books.

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