Page 30 - Seniorstoday December 2023 Issue
P. 30
Mind Matters
Inner Reflections:
Worry Has Absolutely No Value
When things are beyond your control, and there is nothing you can do…
why worry, reasons Dr Monika M Dass
“When the neonatologist came to my control - like the state of the economy, or
hospital room and told me that my second the election outcome or someone else’s
daughter had less than a five percent behaviour at home - will drain you of
chance of surviving the night… and to the mental strength you need to be your
“prepare myself,” I didn’t get hysterical. best. It can also lead to other toxic habits,
I got on the phone, called my physician like blaming yourself too much or micro-
brother and found a place to airlift her managing other people.
for surgery half-way across the country. Fortunately, you do not have to resign
Immediately after her successful surgery, yourself to being a lifelong “worry-wart.”
almost 27 hours later, I began crying, You can take control of your mind and
couldn’t stop, and finally had to be train your brain to think differently.
sedated”. Jann Hoke - “It ain’t over till it’s Here are two things you can do the next
over.” Writer. Artist. Lawyer. time you catch yourself worrying about
Live in the Moment. Like everyone else, things you can’t control:
you cannot predict life’s every turn, so 1. Develop a realistic sense of control.
make the most of each moment. Worrying Identify what is within your control
stems from a desire to be in control. We and what is not. For example, one can
often want to control our environment. Or control ringing the doctor and making an
we may want control over the outcome of appointment at a chosen time convenient
every situation. But the more you try to to both; however, you cannot control nor
control everything around you, the more foresee traffic jams that would delay you
anxious you will feel. from getting to the clinic on time. In the
It is a vicious cycle to break - worry, try to workplace, you can give your employees
gain control, fail, and worry again. Repeat. the tools they need to succeed, but you
Worrying about things you cannot cannot force them to be productive.
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