Nick Wright
When we get scared about potential futures, we build up anxiety. There is nothing natural about the future until enough time passes. You could be right or wrong about the future.
In a previous article, we discussed how to identify anxiety. Now, we will tackle using it as an aide.
Thinking Ahead
A hiker is well prepared. They prepare for some of the worst possible scenarios. Most problems will never happen in their lifetime, yet they stay ready. They look to the negative futures on purpose. For a lot of people, this causes anxiety. What if I get lost, trapped, or hurt? You start daydreaming about your life if one of these futures were true. Then, you spiral out of control from one future to the next.
Once you identify this anxiety, you should change your line of questioning to your brain. Reprogram it to think something about something else. Rather than avoid it, try to listen to anxiety. Try these questions instead:
- Is there something I can do to limit the negative future?
- If I do X, will it solve a potential problem later?
- What is worse? The possible terrible future or taking time now to limit its chances?
The hiker will look at these questions and may choose to bring some items on the trip. This is a realist’s attitude. Lost? Grab a compass. Bring survival rope and a knife. You may need it. Even though the chances are slim, it is best to prepare. This is especially true if it does not take much effort to accomplish. Tackling a problem is easier when you bring supplies.
Another Anxiety Example
You want to ask your crush out on a date. Especially for introverts, the thought “What if I say the wrong thing?” comes to mind. Anxiety is creeping inside. You asked the question, “What if?” Now you must ask, “What can I do?”
Believe it or not, you are more prepared than you think. You have had plenty of time to hear what is socially acceptable. Ever heard the phrase “If you wouldn’t want it said to you, don’t say it to others”? If you don’t think it is harmful, high chances are it won’t be to others. Plan out some questions you might ask in conversation, then speak them out loud. This can be with a trusted friend or yourself. Would you mind someone saying it to you? Once you have your answer, give it a try. Most humans love answering questions, especially about themselves. You can’t go wrong unless you ask an offensive question.
Another thought that comes to mind is – “What if they don’t like me or turn me down?”
There is no way to prepare for this ahead of time. You need to understand that it may happen. If it does, that is okay. It doesn’t mean they will stay away from you forever, nor will you ever find love. It may not be the right time for them, or you may find someone else down the road. Ultimately, you will never know if you don’t try. If you are too scared, you will forever have than weighing “What If” on your mind. This would be the feeling of regret. Regret is simply anxiety from the past. The only way to get past regret is to learn from your mistakes. Move towards your fear rather than running away from it.
Anxiety can be used to future-proof outcomes
There is a near infinite amount of scenarios. Once you learn how to identify the anxiety, make sure to listen. How can you prepare and make the bad futures further apart? There is always an answer. You will overcome the obstacles, but they will be less stressful when you are ready. Take some time to plan. Worry if it happens.
Anxiety shows us the bad possibilities. There are also many good possibilities. None of them may happen, but it couldn’t hurt to prepare.
