THE BENEFITS OF WORRY
MIND, BODY & SPIRIT
By Jane Marks
N
ot a day goes by when we don’t spend time worrying about an event that happened, may happen, or will happen. These days we have plenty of material to work with as the unexpected happens minute-by-minute. While worry can be a nuisance in the short term, it can also be a powerful tool for change. So let’s focus on how we can make worry work for us: • Worry can be a great motivator: it not only prompts you to take action (like getting your yearly physical), but it can also lead you to better prepare for future challenges. Worry drives us to complete tasks, schoolwork, and unending chores—you know, the ones we like to postpone. • Worry, for so many of us, represents caring. You worry about your family because you care and love them. Worry often demonstrates deep compassion for things that matter to you. • Worry can be a great problem-solver. If something
feels wrong and you think about it, you’re also likely to prepare for it. In this way, worry helps you manage the worst-case scenario and strategize for the best. • Worry can prompt you to develop contingency plans. It will motivate you to rethink stale strategies and evolve your way of thinking—better preparing you to take on current challenges. • Worry can shift our attention to things that are important in our lives. When we have an important event coming up, it helps us to pay attention and recognize how valuable this experience is. So, when we worry just a little about the new job or the new baby, it turns out to serve a very valuable function. These last several years, we have had so many things happen that have been completely out of our control. But “good worry” has helped us navigate the toughest of times. So, as worry arises, let’s recognize the important role it plays in our lives.
tallahassee woman | 42 | april • may 2022
