STEP OUT OF THE SHADOW
Friday, February 4, 2011 at 2:39PM
Annie in Books, Self Help, anxiety, self help book

There is an old Swedish proverb that says ‘Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow’.  I do not think it an exaggeration to consider worry as a greater master of the human mind than courage and ambition, and it can destroy both.

Each life is marked by its own set of disasters, great or small, some life changing, some just annoying, therefore worrying about disaster is unavoidable. However when you live your life anticipating misfortune, most of which never happens, then worry can become obsessive.

Being in a constant state of worry is a bit like grief - it is exhausting and all-consuming, blocking out light and repelling happiness.

The constant state of tension within which the mind and body are held, can cause actual physical symptoms and allow depression to take hold. So if this is you, put up the barricades now, use all your powers of distraction, determine that this is the year you don’t sweat the small stuff.

 

What we anticipate rarely occurs, and what we least expect generally happens, if you are a compulsive worrier the least expected is often happier days. 

 

Article originally appeared on Keep Calm and Relax - tools to fight the stress of everyday life (http://www.keepcalmandrelax.co.uk/).
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