1© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

Introduction “A great attitude is not the result of success; success is the result of a great attitude.” (Earl Nightingale)

Perhaps the most important ingredient that you bring to your work and to your life is your calm, focused, positive mental and physical energy.

Worry can be your biggest enemy. It can rob you of energy, enthusiasm and the ability to concentrate. Excessive worry can cause you physical, mental and emotional problems. When you worry too much, you stop being proactive and start becoming reactive. Your creativity goes out the window.

Your job should be to learn how to control worry and minimize its impact on your thinking, feelings and performance. In this lesson, you learn some of the best ideas ever developed by the highest-performing men and women to combat the constant threat of worry and anxiety. In this lesson you will learn:

■ The things people worry about

■ How to live in day-tight compartments

■ The Worry-Buster Formula

■ The antidote to worry

■ How to develop a positive mental attitude

■ The keys to eliminating worry

Stop Worrying, Start Living

PersonalGrowth Strategies

2© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

What Do You Already Know?

Test your knowledge by attempting to answer the questions below.

1. What negative effects are caused by worrying in your life?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. What sort of things do you most worry about?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. How much of your worrying is caused by things that never happen?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4. What effective techniques have you developed to combat the effects of worry?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

5. What are the root causes of any kind of worry?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

6. What is the one solution that you can always use to get rid of worry – almost instantly?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

7. Can you think of a particular attitude that demolishes worry?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

Stop Worrying, Start Living

1. Worrying is one of the biggest problems of the modern world.

a) Your job is to learn how to stop worrying;

b) The things that people worry about;

1) 45% – things that never happen!

2) 25% – things that have already happened!

3) 12% – concerns about health;

4) 10% – petty issues that you can’t do anything about anyway;

5) 8% – real issues, of which 50 percent are uncontrollable;

6) Therefore, only 4% of things are worth concerning yourself about.

c) Worry comes from three areas;

1) What might happen – the future;

2) What should happen – the present;

3) What should have happened – the past.

d) The key? Develop a constructive response to worry!

21Live in “day-tight” compartments.

a) Say to yourself, “Just for today!” I am not going to worry.

5© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

b) Cross the bridge when you come to it;

c) If it is not necessary to decide, it is necessary not to decide.

3. The “worry-buster” formula.

a) Define the worry situation clearly, in writing;

b) Determine the worst possible outcome of the situation;

c) Resolve to accept the worst, should it occur;

d) Begin immediately to improve upon the worst.

4. The definition of worry? “A sustained form of fear caused by indecision.”

a) The antidote to worry? Make a decision, take action!

b) Get so busy that you have no time to worry.

5. The key attitude in dealing with worry? Think about solutions, about the future, about what can be done, right now.

a) To gain a positive mental attitude? Concentrate on solutions rather than problems;

b) To eliminate worry? Choose the future over the past;

c) Accept 100% responsibility for the situation; take control;

d) Refuse to make excuses, or to blame others;

e) Say, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!”

6© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

6. To dissolve worry, anxiety and stress. a) Develop an “Attitude of Gratitude;”

b) Give thanks for all the good things in your life;

c) Be thankful for all the events of your day;

d) Be grateful for everything that happens.

Overcoming worry and performing effectively are signs of mental fitness. You can develop mental fitness through exercise and repetition. You can resolve, right now, to become one of the most positive and effective people in your field!

Action Exercises

1. What are your three biggest problems or worries in life right now?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

2. What are the three very best solutions to your three biggest problems?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

7© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

3. What goals could you achieve that would be the solutions to your major problems or worries?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

4. What specific actions could you take immediately to resolve one or more of your worries or concerns?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

5. What is the biggest problem, challenge or worry that you are facing in life right now?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

8© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

6. What is the worst possible outcome that could occur in this problem or situation?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

7. What could you do immediately to assure that the worst did not occur in this situation?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

8. What are the lessons that you can learn from your biggest problem or worry situations today?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

9© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

9. In what areas of your life should you accept 100 percent responsibility and take control, right now?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

10.What are the three things in your life for which you are the most grateful, every single day?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

What one action are you going to take immediately as the result of what you have learned in this lesson?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________