We all worry about different things, whether the future state of the world, how to pay your bills, or the results of a medical test. While this is a normal thing, these anxieties can weigh heavily on our mind, taking a constant tax on our attention and enjoyment.
It’s important to recognize the difference between worrying about something that is actionable, versus things you cannot control. Worrying about something that leads you to address or mitigate your fears is great.
The real tax comes in when we worry about something that you are unable to act on or address yourself. You have no choice but to wait for the results of that medical test while it is being processed, yet it can stay on the top of your thoughts for that entire period.
While there is no universal solution to reduce our anxieties, we would all benefit from experimenting with different approaches to understand and address them. Only through experimenting and seeing what works for us, can we reduce the mental and emotional tax we pay to these worries.
The payoff of this experimentation can last a lifetime.