WAIT TO WORRY
Written by Lyn Mullins on Sep 16, 2010 10:00 am
An Excerpt from
Attitude is Everything
by Vicki Hitzges
I used to worry. A lot. The more I fretted, the more proficient I became at it. Anxiety begets anxiety. I even worried that I worried too much! Ulcers might develop. My health could fail. My finances could deplete to pay the hospital bills.
A comedian once said, "I tried to drown my worries with gin, but my worries are equipped with flotation devices." While not a drinker, I certainly could identify! My worries could swim, jump and pole vault!
To get some perspective, I visited a well known, Dallas businessman, Fred Smith. Fred mentored such luminaries as motivational whiz Zig Ziglar, business guru Ken Blanchard and leadership expert John Maxwell. Fred listened as I poured out my concerns and then said, "Vicki, you need to learn to wait to worry."
As the words sank in, I asked Fred if he ever spent time fretting. (I was quite certain he wouldn't admit it if he did. He was pretty full of testosterone-even at age 90.) To my surprise, he confessed that in years gone by he had been a top-notch worrier!
"I decided that I would wait to worry!" he explained. "I decided that I'd wait until I actually had a reason to worry-something that was happening, not just something that might happen-before I worried."
"When I'm tempted to get alarmed," he confided, "I tell myself, 'Fred, you've got to wait to worry! Until you know differently, don't worry.' And I don't. Waiting to worry helps me develop the habit of not worrying and that helps me not be tempted to worry."
Fred possessed a quick mind and a gift for gab. As such, he became a captivating public speaker. "I frequently ask audiences what they were worried about this time last year. I get a lot of laughs," he said, "because most people can't remember. Then I ask if they have a current worry - you see nods from everybody. Then I remind them that the average worrier is 92% inefficient - only 8% of what we worry about ever comes true."
Charles Spurgeon said it best. "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."
Posted for you here by Lyn Mullins
Views: 479 | 
Comments: 5 
About the Author: Lyn Mullins
Member Since: 02/20/2009
I'm a Distributor For:: Mentoring For Free
Industry: Training and Development
Primary Web Site: http://LynMullins.com
Hi Lynn
I enjoyed meeting you in Houston. I think we can help each other!
Wow!
Great article, Lyn! I needed to hear this too! Some wonderful quotes in there that I'm going to add to my "Quotebook". Thanks for sharing.
Worry Free !
Great Article Lyn,
I like when Fred said "I decided that I'd wait until I actually had a reason to worry-something that was happening, not just something that might happen-before I worried." That's basically the philosophy that I have adopted.
Thank You for a refreshing article,
I Appreciate You,
Your Friend,
Steve Squillace
We Must Eliminate The Word Worry From Our Vocabulary
If we do not eliminate the word worry from our vocabulary we are toast. It is noticeable on the phone, in person, on e-mail and in writing that we are worried.
If prospects see us that way no matter how bad our situation is, they are not going to want to with us anything anymore.
Even in the worst case scenario we have to be our very best. That way if we keep doing our best to win the game we will evenutally get there!!!
Just like the story with the Tortoise and The Hare.
Hey, Lyn
Before the Mental Cleanse I was a world-class worrier (is that a word?) and sometimes I am still tempted. Thanks for the reminder.
Theresa Garland