While it’s easy to debate about what happiness is and what we can do to “create” it, it’s perhaps easier to recognize what stands in its way. Identifying obstacles of happiness is a simple way to tackle what is contributing to unhappiness in our lives.
When I think of what causes the most stress and displeasure in my own life, I immediately focus on my worries. I tend to worry constantly: about what I’m doing wrong, about what I should be doing, about what I COULD be doing, about how I’m thinking and NOT doing, etc. The amount of time I spend worrying only steals my joy and gives me stress. And I know I’m not alone.
Dr. Sandra Llera of Towson University addresses how worry negatively impacts the lives of many. She states that excessive worry is the main symptom of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), an illness that affects more than 5% of the population. While not everyone’s worrying will escalate to this scale, we all know that worrying can affect us in numerous negative ways.
Worrying can disrupt our sleep schedules, take us out of the present, and cause us to feel miserable. So what can we do? We can take a hands-on approach to control worry.
Instead of obsessing over all the things that worry you, try a healthy distraction such as spending time with loved ones or having a productive work out session. While this isn’t a permanent solution, it’s good to take ourselves out of the moments of paralyzing worry and focus on something that makes us feel relaxed and happy instead. In fact, sometimes a few minutes of distraction is all we need to realize that our worries can be left in the past where they belong.
Drink some water, yo. I’m serious. If you are spending so much time in stress mode, you probably aren’t hydrating. Just try it. Hydration is a well known link to physical health and guess what? Our brain is a physical thing as well.
Another way to tackle the worry monster is to change your perspective. This one takes repeated effort and is a long-term solution. Try to exercise reframing your worries. Is the issue troubling you something you can actively solve? If not not, consider letting it go. Try to spend your energy taking steps to address real issues, not conjured ones.
While worry can drain you and upset you, it only consumes as much energy as you give it. Breathe and let go whenever you can, and focus on the aspects of your life that bring you joy.