Today is the day to…Today is the day to…

stop worryingstop worrying

The source for this material is…The source for this material is…

25 Days to Better Thinking and Better 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your

Life,Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.

Do you worry about problemsDo you worry about problems

“…“…rather than take action to solve rather than take action to solve them?them?

Do you obsess about problems that Do you obsess about problems that you can do nothing about?you can do nothing about?

While you are worrying, do you While you are worrying, do you present a calm, unruffled exterior?”present a calm, unruffled exterior?”

(Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)(Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)

WORRYWARTWORRYWART

DO YOU KNOW ANYDO YOU KNOW ANY

WORRYWARTS?WORRYWARTS?

You can probably name You can probably name several in your sphere several in your sphere

of living…of living…

YOU PROBABLY YOU PROBABLY OMMITTED YOUR OMMITTED YOUR NAME ON THAT NAME ON THAT

LIST OF LIST OF WORRYWARTS—WORRYWARTS—

SHOULD IT BE SHOULD IT BE THERE?THERE?

Take Notice of Your WorryingTake Notice of Your Worrying

““Notice the negative Notice the negative emotions you emotions you experience when you experience when you worry.”worry.”

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Notice when others…Notice when others…

worryworry

fail to actfail to act

waste energy in waste energy in emoting about a emoting about a problemproblem

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Our authors remind us…Our authors remind us…

““Worrying never adds to the quality of Worrying never adds to the quality of your life, but it can certainly diminish your life, but it can certainly diminish

its quality.”its quality.”

(Drs. Elder and Paul, (Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)Ibid)

““For every problem under the sun,For every problem under the sun,there is a solution or there in none.there is a solution or there in none.If there be one, seek till you find it.If there be one, seek till you find it.

If there be none, then never mind it.”If there be none, then never mind it.”

Your mind is failing you… Your mind is failing you…

“…“…to the extent to the extent that you worry, that you worry, instead of instead of actively looking actively looking for solutions.”for solutions.”

First seek a solution – First seek a solution – open your mind to open your mind to

alternative possibilitiesalternative possibilities open your mind to open your mind to

alternative possibilitiesalternative possibilities open your mind…open your mind…

(Ibid)(Ibid)

……and, let it goand, let it go

“…“…if there is nothing you can do in the if there is nothing you can do in the situation;situation;

……turn your mind to something productive.”turn your mind to something productive.”(Ibid)(Ibid)

Rational persons Rational persons

……work to control excessive, unproductive worrywork to control excessive, unproductive worry

andand

……work to avoid the emotional pain and fruitlessness of work to avoid the emotional pain and fruitlessness of obsessive worryobsessive worry

See pp. 51-52 for more discussion by our authors on this See pp. 51-52 for more discussion by our authors on this topic.topic.

““Worry is interest paid on Worry is interest paid on trouble before it becomes trouble before it becomes

due.”due.”-W.R. IngeW.R. Inge

Five+ StrategiesFive+ Strategies

You will find five strategies, including You will find five strategies, including several questions in the first of the several questions in the first of the five, that you can use for five, that you can use for “relinquishing the worrying habit,” as “relinquishing the worrying habit,” as our authors put it..our authors put it..

See pp. 52-53 in their book, See pp. 52-53 in their book, (Ibid).(Ibid).

Today is the day to…Today is the day to…

STOP WORRYINGSTOP WORRYING

DAILY REFLECTION NOTESDAILY REFLECTION NOTES Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies:Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies:

The key insights that emerged for me today were:The key insights that emerged for me today were:

One problem in my thinking that I now realize is:One problem in my thinking that I now realize is:

I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy:I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy: