The human brain tends to drift out of the present.

We’re convinced that pulling forward yesterday’s or tomorrow’s problems and analyzing them to death will make life better.

It simply doesn’t work.  

It is effective and appropriate to plan for future events. It helps ensure they go smoothly.

However, once we’ve completed the planning, the brain has only one job left – worrying.

Unfortunately, very few of us are adept at recognizing when planning ends and worrying begins.

As a result, we commit a ton of energy to obsessing about the “worst-case scenario,” even though this rarely decreases its likelihood.

The next time we start to drift, try this tactic:

1. Write down the worry or problem that is plaguing your mind.
2. Write down one action step you can take to help solve, reduce, or move forward with the problem.

This simple practice can help determine if we’re planning or worrying.

If it’s the latter (which it most likely is), our job is simple – let it go.

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—CJ McClanahan

Speaker | Advisor | Recovering Overachiever

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