Stop Pushing the Misery Button

I recently read The Big Leap* by Gay Hendricks. (I chat more about the book in my latest podcast, 095.)

One of the takeaways that made the biggest, most immediate impact is his section on worry. There have been times in my life where my inclination to worry has been more out of hand than at other times, but the tactics that Hendricks shares in this book have helped immensely.

This was my favorite idea: worry thoughts creep up only to cut off the flow of positive energy.

99% of worrying is not productive. It doesn’t help me think better, work better, be more creative, think about others, or even think of solutions. Worry thoughts cut off good feelings, take me out of the present moment, and inspire my creative mind to think of all the things that could go wrong. It’s not helpful.

I loved this quote in the book, “ It was very humbling to realize that my worries were there just to make me miserable. It was even more humbling to realize that I was the guy who had his finger firmly pressed on the misery button. It was wonderful, though, to discover that I also had the power to quit pressing the button.”

Have you ever looked at your worrying this way? Have you ever seen your worries as something that just makes you miserable? Have you ever realized that you have the power to stop worrying whenever you want?

I get it, it can be harder than it sounds, to just stop worrying. Your worrying can have so much momentum that they take on a life of their own, it seems. However, they do not have a life of their own. Worry thoughts are like parasites - they cannot survive with without you. Your worry thoughts do not exist outside of you.

So while it may be difficult to stop those train wreck thoughts, it’s well worth the effort. The worry thoughts are, after all, just making you miserable. Wouldn’t it be worth your time to make every effort to divert your attention on something productive or joyful? I would hope the answer is yes. I know it’s a yes for me.

Journal on this: In what ways can you release your worry thoughts? Is there a thought or memory that you can practice turning your attention to instead?

hugs + kisses,
Megan Bauer

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