"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." - Leo Buscaglia
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE?At True Capital, we see the tip of the iceberg on the topic of "worry". We help our clients solve concerns such as:
- How will I find the talented people I need to keep growing?
- Is my business structured right to succeed?
- How can I deal with complex people issues?
Our work helps owners & leaders sleep at night. But what about the basic idea of "worry"?
DO THE MATH!Mathematically it makes no sense to worry. Research tells us that:
- 40% of what we worry about will never happen
- 30% has already happened
- 12% of worries are over unfounded health concerns
- 10% involves sweating small stuff that amounts to nothing
- 8% is worrying over real issues
So how do we narrow our thoughts to deal with the "real" 8%?
NARROW YOUR FOCUSSir William Osler suggested that worry can be addressed by focusing on the tasks at hand. Our thoughts can be dominated by past mistakes or anxiety about upcoming events. We are unable to perform what needs must be done at the moment because we are trapped in the past or future. Osler described the benefits of living in "day-tight compartments" - not stewing about the future but living each day until bedtime.
SHARE, STUDY, SHEDThe Harvard Management program recommends three steps to address worry in business before it becomes toxic:
- Don't worry alone. Talk to someone you trust for relief and guidance.
- Get the facts. Things can get blown out of proportion - find out how big the problem is.
- Let it go. When you can't do anything about the problem, give it up and forget about it. This may be easier said than done, but it is worth the conscious effort.
ACTIONAction has been shown to reduce every form of worry. Start by taking action right now...
If your worries are deeper or more
personal, try reading this
article for suggestions.
