How to Train Your Mind to Stop Worrying Too Much

Almost all of us worry in life, sometime or the other. And it's even necessary for solving various problems that pop up in our day-to-day life. Worrying is just an evolutionary instinct in human beings that propels us to take steps that can make our future secure.

Unnecessary worrying, however, is a habit that needs to be eliminated from an individual's personality, as that erodes peace of mind, and hampers physical health.

Worrying stems from a variety of reasons that can range from any simple issue to a complex problem in life. Worrying to the extent that you fall sick or you lose your peace of mind is certainly not a solution for sorting out any problems in your life. It affects your physical and mental health. The effects can be disastrous in the long run.

How can an individual know that his worrying habits are taking a toll on his mental and physical health? Symptoms such as anxiety, over stress, obsessive compulsive disorders, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and difficulty in sleeping can be signals toward something troubling the mind.

Thinking of your past mistakes and failures, or incessant thinking about your future career or life are the most common reasons for worrying day and night. Either we live in the past, brooding over missed opportunities, or we fly off to a dream land, building castles in the air, waiting for something miraculous to happen.

The basic reason for such common human behavior is that we are often afraid of accepting the present. If you think from a spiritual dimension, living in the present leaves no space for any worries to occupy your mind. It's a wonderful method to avoid any negativity to engulf your existence.

Living in present is like meditation. You have dusted the past, and you're concerned about your future, rather than worrying about it. It's noteworthy that being concerned and being worried are two different things. When you're concerned about something, you just focus all your energies in solving the problem.

On the other hand, if you're worried, you'll expend your energy, rounding in circles of thought, without making any efforts to solve the problem. The mantra is to live one day at a time. It's a key to peace of mind. Try this for some weeks, your worrying habits will surely reduce. Fight each day as it comes, kill the past, and be ready to face the future.

Focus on what legendary Lee Iacocca once said, 'My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life.' Friends or people who're very close in your life, those very few who really make your life special, and are the ones you can bank upon in crisis.

Zero in on those few with whom you're comfortable sharing your deepest fears and greatest joys. Those few who love you unconditionally. Whenever you're worrying too much, talk to them, share your anxiety and declutter your mind. Your 'brand group' must include people with whom you don't have ego issues. They're the ones with whom you are yourself.

So what are you thinking now? Why not immediately think of the five people in your life with whom you can always share your worries. Remember, people who listen to you, will seriously support you.

A basic fact: plenty of work is one of the most adequate methods to eliminate your problem of worrying, and put control on the thoughts that ruin your mental peace. Fall in love with your work and see the magic. Ninety percent of worries stem when you've extra time to think and fret over issues.

Keep yourself busy at work. It helps a lot. To quote Elbert Hubbard, "Get happiness out of your work or you may never know what happiness is".

Expectations are inherent in our nature. We tend to expect things, be it in career or relationships. However, majority of us go the extra mile and start to expect more than what it is necessary. Now, it's human tendency to expect, not an issue. But then ensure that you're able to understand how much is too much.

Expectations can trigger you to work harder and achieve what you want. However, worrying sleeplessly to expect fabulous results, isn't helpful, anyway.

As human beings, we all have a spiritual side. Why not connect to it and establish a relation with it. In moments of turmoil, why not believe in the higher order of this universe. Discover your inner talents, some thing you're passionate about and work on it. It can help you to do a catharsis of your thoughts.

Had a bad day at office and returned home with an agonized mind? Never mind, play your guitar, read some of your favorite works, play some sports, talk to you partner, play video games with your kids, and why not even help your partner in cooking.

And if you've faith in spirituality, you can very well understand that sometimes, you've to just leave things on time, so that slowly you're able to picture the larger role certain events have to play in your life.

Writing what you feel is one of the most profound ways to get rid of worrying too much. If developed as a habit, writing or journaling your thoughts can make a world of difference in the quality of your daily life. Do this as a exercise. Maintain a diary and pen down your thoughts at night before going to bed.

You can do this anytime, however, while going to bed at night, you can evaluate your day's progress and what you could have done better. For solving your worry issues, answer basic questions like, 'what I'm worrying about', 'what all options I have to eliminate worry' and after you note every option, start to act on them.

By acceptance we are not saying compromise with your situation and step back when you face problems. Instead, it is a deeper understanding of life. It is likely that many a time, a situation goes beyond our control. So, learning the art of acceptance will pave the path for peace of mind.

This beautiful prayer will summarize what we wish to convey, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Lastly, as Murphy's law say, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong", so there is no point in worrying too much. All you can do is to give your best in handling any situation, with poise and calmness. Just learn to be happy with yourself and slowly you'll be able to get rid of worries.