57. Worry is a waste of time.

As a child, I did a lot of worrying about a lot of things. I surmise that most children as they are growing up may worry about a number of simple things. I used to worry before a test at school, during the test if there was a tough question, and after the test waiting for the results. Kids worry about how they look, if their friends like them and about the things they don't understand. As we mature many of us finally learn that worrying is a bad habit to cultivate.

I think I learned to stop worrying in two different ways. First, I spent a lot of time thinking about the things that I had previously worried about. Reality taught me, upon reflection, that I often achieved the results I wanted, and I would have attained them regardless if I worried ahead of time of not. Worrying did not contribute to the final result in any way - it was just an unnecessary distraction.

Since I worried about doing well on a test, I decided to study as hard as I could and then just let the chips fall where they may. I soon learned that preparation ahead of a worrisome event helped eliminate the anxiety of worry. Preparation is the key to developing confidence whether it is for taking a driver's test, going to a job interview, or meeting someone for the first time. 

Most of life's worries will only grow if we just leave them fermenting in our mental jar. If worry is consuming all of our thoughts, we need to develop an action plan to change them from "thoughts" to "actions." If we have a step by step plan we focus our thoughts on what we are going to actually do, rather than stress about nebulous thoughts, worry is going to take a back seat. 

As I reflect back upon my life, there were countless times that I can recall that I worried. In just about every case, reality showed me that my worry had been needless. It had been a waste of time and I had worried for nothing. It was a tough lesson, but I can honestly say, I never really worry any longer. I have the confidence that planning and execution will defeat almost any problem, far better than worry!