Weekly Tools and Tips to Improve Any Relationship
The other day I came across some literature of ours that says: “One Blue man finally gave up worry in his eighties. He told me he had worried needlessly all his life and it had cost him dearly. Most of what he worried about never happened, yet he had robbed himself of enjoying the present moment for so many years. He said that he finally woke up one day and said to himself, ‘No more! If it hasn’t happened to me by now, chances are it won’t ever happen. So let it go!’ And he did. He had paid his debt in time and energy and was finally free simply to be.”
That passage both resonated with me and scared me. I am a world-class worrier! One of the natural limitations of the Blue personality is being worry-prone, and I am not exempt! However, just like that old man, it costs me dearly and I don’t want to be in my eighties to figure out a way to stop worrying.
Although I have not mastered a way to combat my worrying, it’s something I really want to work on, and I’m sure other Blues feel the same. So in an effort to help myself and others, I want to provide readers with a few tips for stifling their worry. Here goes!
Marrying a Yellow is the best decision I’ve ever made. His optimism makes a world of difference with my worry! When I come down with a doomsday attitude, he is right there to point out how ridiculous I’m being, to laugh at or with me or to simply soothe my anxious heart. I greatly admire the Yellow ability to be optimistic, and it’s something I’d like to master. For the time being, I’m able to allow my husband’s optimism to help me out of my consistently worried state. I know not every Blue marries a Yellow, but you surely have a Yellow friend or someone you can make friends with who will hopefully have the same effect!
For me, reading is almost like therapy. Stepping outside my own world and into someone else’s is a nice way to escape my worries and find enjoyment and relaxation. I also recently picked up knitting. The rhythmic pattern of making knit and purl stitches miraculously soothes my anxiety and helps me channel my worried energy more productively. Is there something you’re passionate about that you can’t live without? Next time you feel like you can’t escape worry, escape into your distracting hobby!
You knew this was coming, didn’t you? From experience, I can say this is a healthy and productive way to calm yourself down and get a better handle on life. I personally enjoy yoga, because it helps me practice centering my mind on one thought rather than letting it spin out of control like I do so many times when I’m stressed. I love after the yoga is done and I get to meditate, because my body is able to relax and I only allow myself to think positively. In the past, I’ve tried mindfulness meditation while trying to fall asleep at night. I recommend this YouTube video.
If we’re so good at talking ourselves into worry, why can’t we try talking ourselves out of worry? It might feel silly, but next time you’re freaking out about something, take a step back and tell yourself you got this. Tell yourself everything that is going right in your life and remind yourself of times in the past when you got yourself out of sticky situations. Seriously, remind yourself of your own capability, focus on the positive, put whatever you’re worrying about into perspective and breathe out!
I know practicing what I’m preaching is way easier said than done, but if we actively focus our minds on trying these methods and making efforts to overcome worrying so much, I believe we can do it! Take a lesson from the man in the story at the beginning of this post and don’t let yourself grow old before you stop worrying so much. Blues, we got this!
Megan Christensen graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in communication. She previously worked as the head writer for KSL.com and is now the digital content manager for the Color Code. Her core color is Blue, but she is almost just as White.
