HomeThis week, we're looking at how worry plays out in your life. Many women tend to worry about everything, and this is especially true for moms.
Think of all the things you worry about in a given day. Kid things, husband things, job things, household things, pet things... lots of moms bombard themselves with worry and the accompanying questions (Did I remember to put the clothes in the dryer? Am I going to be on time for my meeting? Are there extra diapers in the diaper bag? Am I reading enough with my child? Does my hair look ok?). Big things, small things, moms find ways to worry about all of it.
But WHY?? What are you actually accomplishing with all this worry? You probably know the answer already: absolutely nothing. Yet because moms often take on the weight of the world, it's hard not to fall into the worry trap. Worry can give you a sense of control - if you're acknowledging a concern, it feels like you're at least doing something about it.
It can be difficult to quiet that nagging voice of worry in your head, but one option is to confront it. When you catch yourself worrying, stop and ask yourself: Is there anything whatsoever that I can do about this? If the answer is no, try to let it go. It will still be there later, like an annoying relative, but the less you pay attention to it, the less it will bother you.
On the other hand, if you CAN do something about whatever is bothering you, figure out how and when to do so, then take action. Even if you can't fix things right away, having a plan makes it easier to let go of the worry in the meantime.
This ties in to the sentiment of the well-known "serenity prayer" - Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to tell the difference. And to this I would add: and the ability to stop worrying so much about all of it!
Your assignment: Take note this week of the things you often worry about. Pick one concern that especially bothers you, and decide what you want to do: can you take action in some way to improve the situation? If so, what will you do? When? If not, can you let it go, even a little? This is not easy, but it is very important. Good luck!
Ready to take the assignment? Want to talk about this? Share your ideas and thoughts at the M.O.M. Balance forum.
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