There have been times when we have sat down and thought about what we are doing in life. Usually the question brings more regret than happiness as one considers all the missed opportunities or moments in the rush to achieve something better. But the “something better” is a point that is always moving farther in the future. When you think you have reached your target, you no longer find the reward satisfying. It is human nature to always want that which is not available, and not appreciate that which is. So we keep running behind the unattainable goal, and do not pause to enjoy the attained. Everyone is stuck in this vicious, never-ending circle. But if there is one thing that everyone should agree upon, it’s that life is too short to worry.
If you were to sit down and introspect on the past and present, it is very likely that the long list of what you have achieved will seem puny beside the longer list of what you have lost. On hindsight, what you have missed out will seem more valuable too. Add to that regret list all the time spent worrying about the future, and it becomes never-ending. Since it is almost impossible to stop aiming higher than reaching your goals, the next best solution is to eliminate worry from your life. In order to do so, we must first identify what people lose their sleep over.
Financial reasons are the biggest cause for worry for most people. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it has been identified that the primary motivating or driving factor in a person’s life is security. This entails ensured supply of food, lodging and no threats to the physical or mental state. Since money is the one thing that can guarantee the physical and mental safety of a person, it is also the cause of constant stress or worry. In such cases, one must constantly repeat to oneself that though money is important, if you are financially secure already then there is no point worrying about it. Make sure that you have a strong financial strategy in terms of good investments, savings and insurances. This will help you feel less worried about the future.
Many people lose sleep over their past actions or events. They re-live their lives over and over again till they stop living in the present at all! It is very important that you get out of the rewind mode and push the play button in your life. Unless you are willing to move forward, there is nothing good that is going to come out of reliving your past. You must be ready to learn the lesson from your mistakes and make sure that you do not repeat them. The past is like a moral story book that you take out once in a while to keep you on the right track. Kind of like a guide on mistakes to avoid in your life. But most people nowadays use it like a prayer book that they read from cover to cover daily. Endlessly pondering over what went wrong or how life could have been is not going to get you anywhere.
One of the biggest ironies is that worrying affects the health; yet good health is a cause of stress for many. The lifestyle of people today is such that there is not much time left for taking care of one’s physical fitness. The short-cut food options of packaged, eat-out or junk food is high on cholesterol and harmful fats and carbs and not very healthy in the long run. Late working hours also cause several health related issues including the tendency to turn insomniac. Add to that the incredible amount of stress that one has to face every day, and you have in front of you an overloaded platter of potential illnesses. There are many specialty clinics today that help people cope with health related stress. Yoga and other forms of exercise are also encouraged to lower stress. Dieticians and nutritionists advise people to eat light but nutritive meals, and to take small portions frequently. In fact, for the working population it is a boon that many entrepreneurs have started providing home delivery of nutritious meals.
Life is too short to worry about what other people are doing. Yet, though we may preach this philosophy, it is extremely difficult to put it to practice in real life. Only the strong of mind and heart can resist the lure of gossip. Psychologists believe that people tend to gossip for several reasons, but the top reasons are conversation breakers, envy and maliciousness. It is always easier to start conversations by dishing out the dirt on someone else. It not only diverts attention away from your own nervousness, but also helps you gain momentary popularity. But it would also discourage people to form close relationships with you as they will distrust you with their secrets. Nobody wants to be gossiped about, so think of a better icebreaker. The grass is not always greener for someone else; start appreciating what you have going on in your life.
Finally, the one topic that everyone wants to evade, yet it is inevitable, is aging and death. Though one can visit specialists and get treatments done, it is all superficial. With every birth, the death of the being is connected. It is foolish to wish otherwise. The sooner you realize this, the quicker you can start enjoying your own limited period of earthly existence. Aim to age gracefully like fine wine, rather than letting the rust of useless worry rot your life. Embrace life and enjoy the sunsets with your loved ones.
Now that you know what causes you to worry, it is high time that you remove this bug from the system before it infects your life beyond repair. Life is too short to worry about all the things that can go wrong. Hold on tight to moments that give you happiness and find someone genuine to share them with. If you can do that, then you can say that you have lived your life well.
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