What, Me...Worry?

Ask anyone for three things that are worrying them right now and there’s a ridiculously high chance that they will rattle them off in a few seconds...and maybe even add to them...why the heck not, if you’re on a roll.

We spend a lot of time ruminating on events that may or may not have happened and words that may or may not have taken place.

You’ve heard those annoying people say that “Worrying does you no good” or “There’s no point in worrying, it won’t change anything” - decidedly unhelpful nuggets of wisdom when you are trying to figure out how to pay the next heating bill from your last tenner or you’ve just heard that the people who bought the company you work for are letting half the staff go ("Yeah, great advice")

So what do you do?

Continue to worry? Well, like smoking, you know it’s harmful to you but it can become who you are.

It’s very easy to identify yourself with your worry-ness.

“He’s a born worrier”.

“My mum worried, I get it from her”.

“I just can’t help thinking of the worst all the time”.

So (again) what do you do? I ask this again because I didn’t answer it the first time.

I’m not saying this will work but it’s worth a try, right?

Here we go: Next time a situation arises that calls for worry - try to think of What and Who you are right now.

Let me explain before you lose patience with me (I know...it’s the written word...not a popular form of communication these days). Imagine you work at radio station XYZ-FM. New owners are coming in...they fire people. They’re nasty!!

What and Who are you right now?

You are the Afternoon Presenter right now. I mean Right Now!

Can you worry about next week? Sure, if you like but Right Now (today) you are the Afternoon Presenter.

Now, take control. It’s been a well-known half-truth for a long time that the best time to apply for a job is when you’re in a job.

Worried about your job? Start looking and applying, schmoozing and networking. Go and look after yourself before someone in a suit decides you are surplus to requirements, that the company is ‘moving in a different direction’ and that you are ‘wished success in future endeavours’. Yeah, you know the drill.

One thing. That's all it is. It’s not huge but it could help. Who and What are you right now?

Try and be grateful for that and pat yourself on the back for getting that far. Then get over that and start moving.

Worry never got you a job. 

Never lost you one either.