Tired of Worrying? Here are five Ways to Fight Your Worry Monster.

Tired of Worrying? Here are five Ways to Fight Your Worry Monster.
I admit it. I am a worrier. I've decided that my worrying
is due to an annoying little monster appropriately named,
the Worry Monster. I have bought countless books and CDs,
all of which promised to dispose of this devilish little
thing. But it still pops up now and then.

Finally, I realized instead of trying to get rid of it, I
needed to negotiate a compromise. I would agree to live
with it, but it could NOT run my life! Learning to live
with my Worry Monster was a conscious decision. I was tired
of trying to prove it wrong.

Worry monsters are very sneaky. There's always a kernel of
truth to what they tell you. Worry is about the possibility
of something bad happening. Well, guess what? Something bad
can happen and sometimes does! This is the power of Worry
Monsters; the possibility that they just might be right.

In dealing with my Worry Monster, I've found that the most
effective strategy is to do things that keep me in control
of it. If you also struggle with a persistent Worry
Monster, here are some ideas for you to consider:

STOP TRYING TO KILL YOUR WORRY MONSTER

I know it's so tempting. But like any monster, when you try
to kill it, it will just fight back. Worry Monsters are not
good for you, but you ended up with yours for a reason. It
is important to figure out what it's trying to tell you.

So, really listen for the messages behind your worry. Is it
that you might fail, not live up to someone's expectations,
or that you might not be able to cope with something?
Whatever the message is, it's important to hear and
acknowledge it. Once you do this, you are on your way to
quieting your Worry Monster's annoying chatter.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR WORRY MONSTER

Worry Monsters hate it when you take control. It's like the
alpha dog stuff. You better be sure your Worry Monster
knows YOU are the alpha dog. Otherwise, it will take
control and proceed to tell you everything that could go
wrong in your life.

You can stop it, however, if you develop strategies for
handling what might go wrong. Write these strategies down
and keep them. When your Worry Monster starts grumbling at
you, just wave the strategies in its face to remind it
who's in control!

LAUGH AT YOUR WORRY MONSTER

Worry Monsters hate it when they hear you laughing. It just
saps all their power. If one is hanging around your house,
find ways to make yourself laugh.

In addition, they tend to take themselves VERY seriously.
Therefore, the best thing to do is make fun of your Worry
Monster. Laugh in its face. This tactic usually annoys it
so much it will slink off and hide.

TALK WITH A FRIEND TO CALM YOUR WORRY MONSTER

Friends can give you a different perspective. There is a
caveat here: Be sure you pick people who have control over
their own Worry Monsters. The last thing you need to hear
is, "Oh, that's terrible! I'd be worried too!" Find someone
who can listen while offering positive and constructive
support.

Remember, Worry Monsters thrive on your fears; they need to
keep you anxious. Good friends ease your anxiety by getting
you to look at your worries in a different way. In
addition, if something bad does happens, they're there to
help you through it.

EXERCISE AND CHASE AWAY YOUR WORRY MONSTER

Worry Monsters prefer slouching on top of your shoulders
and playing with your mind. They are not fond of physical
activity. Therefore, if you take a long walk with the dog,
run on your treadmill, or just do jumping jacks for ten
minutes, your Worry Monster will find someplace else to
hang out.

Worry requires a lot of mental energy. When you exercise,
your mind has to focus on the energy your body needs.
Consequently, there is not much left over to feed your
Worry Monster. This is a good thing. Most Worry Monsters
could stand to lose a bit of weight!

I've listed five ideas that can help you manage your Worry
Monster. You can use them or create your own. Have fun
thinking of the ways you can stop your Worry Monster from
being such a pest. You may not eliminate it from your life,
but it is possible to coexist with it!

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Sara Healy is a life coach who helps people with life and
career transitions using their strengths and values. Find
out how she can help you make positive changes in your life
by contacting her at: => http://www.sarahealy.com