WorldWide Drilling Resource

43 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2015 /*% 3*-- :45&.4 /$ !& "3& %&%*$"5&% 50 5)& 8"5&3 8&-- */%6453: "354 -0$"5&% "/% 41"3&4 1307*%&% '03 &9*45*/( &26*1.&/5 > 305"3: 5"#-&4 /08 130%6$&% 8*5) -"3(& 3*/( (&"3 "/% 1*/*0/ &&% &1"*34 05"3: 5"#-&4 < 6% 16.14 < "+03 $0.10/&/54 0/?5 '03(&5 3%&3 :063 $01: 0' = 3"/4'&3 0' &$)/0-0(:> 83*55&/ #: 0)/ ? 410*3 "3,&5 /*% )0/& < "9 888 &/*%%3*-- $0. ; 9$*5*/( $)"/(&4; The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. Free Your Mind from Worry Stuck in a worry loop? Here’s how to break free. I know people who worry all the time - about all sorts of things, most of which never come to pass. The problem for me is, all the exposure to their neg- ative thinking is contagious, and I find myself worrying about things. I have, on occasion, had some seri- ous things to be concerned about, but I’ve found when I worry, I lose sleep, which in turn causes me to get less ac- complished. So I try to keep my problems in perspective. I recall a friend’s grandmother say- ing, “Worry is like a rocking horse; it consumes time and energy, but gets you nowhere.” Worry stems from our fear of the unknown. It is the anticipation of poten- tially negative outcomes. We get anxious when we have invested time and effort into some endeavor; and it is reason- able to have expectations of the future. Worry in small doses is normal. It is tied to our sense of caution, and it helps us make plans, anticipate problems, and accomplish goals. Too much worry, however, creates stress; and stress shuts down our abil- ity to think creatively. When we can’t think creatively, we can’t solve the prob- lem we were worried about to begin with. I like the term “Future-Tripping” be- cause it aptly describes what we do when we worry. We stop living in the present, because we are spending all our time living in our mind hashing out the various possible scenarios the future may bring. Shantideva, an 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk, put it this way, “If the problem can be solved, then why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worry- ing will do you no good.” We can stop those thoughts by ask- ing ourselves what is below the anxiety. What are you most afraid of? For me, the recent economic recession would occasionally send me into near panic as I watched my business slow down. The things I feared were months away, and could only come true if absolutely nothing changed in my life. Life, how- ever, is constantly changing, and new opportunities arise every day. I find I can control my negative thoughts by bringing them down to those which I can work on today. If my worry is really out of control, I will only focus on what I can accomplish over the next hour. Sometimes, I find mundane yard work helps me break the worry pattern - because like riding a rocking horse - it burns time and energy, but at least I’m accomplishing something. For me, the repetitious nature of mowing the grass or raking leaves has a meditative effect. The purpose is to change your per- spective. Other activities which help do this include walking, hiking, biking, skat- ing, or working out in the gym. You want to shift your thoughts from negative to positive. Exercise makes you feel good, which in turn leads to good thoughts. Go to bed; take a bath; ride a bus. These relaxing activities encourage daydream- ing. Many times it is in a moment of repose we find the solution to the thing worrying us. Kent Boxberger, an Atlanta-based business coach says, “If you’re feeling worried, you're not feeling free. You feel encumbered by something. You can’t be worried and find a solution at the same time. To get out of worry-mode you have to think some different, 'better-feeling' thoughts, so that emotions can change direction. Continuing to look at the prob- lem is like quicksand - the more you struggle with it - the worse it gets. “The first step is to realize what you are doing, and become conscious of the worry. The second step is understanding the solution is not found by continuing to look at or think about the problem. The third step is to focus your thoughts on something else that makes you feel good. It is when you release enough resistance that an idea, toward solving the problem, will come.” If you are finding it difficult to shift your thoughts, Kent suggests: “Take a nap to stop the momentum. It’s the most powerful thing you can do. It’s like a reset button.” And, remember, if you’re feeling over- whelmed, it is always cool to ask for help. Robert Robert is an author, humorist, and innovation consultant. He works with companies that want to be more com- petitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert, visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com or contact him via e-mail at michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com