Alfred E. Neuman is the fictitious mascot that was first used in a vintage dentistry advertisement with the motto, "What, me worry?" In 1952, it was made popular when it appeared on the cover of Mad magazine which became an American classic.
Even though he was a fictional person, how would you like to be known for reminding people of 'worry'?
For some of us worry has become such a major part of our life, we have a hard time letting it go. Worrying is like a rocking in a chair. It gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.
In Matthew 6 Jesus said, Do not worry about your life. Worrying will not add a single hour.
Worry is calculating without God.
Worrying is assuming that God does not know what He is doing.
Worry is concern -- on steroids!
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and you can't go back to sleep because you find yourself worrying about everything that has happened to you or may happen in your life?
85% of the things people worry about never happen, according to a study at Cornell University.
Chronic worrying is exhausting, but it is not always easy to let it go. When an anxious or upsetting thought takes root in our brain — worries about the future, things that happened in the past, or what other people think of us, our optimism and character may be affected.
Chronic worrying is like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere you go — it wears you out, slows you down, and can stop you from enjoying the pleasures of life.
Here are some of my suggestions for decreasing worry and stress:
Limit your exposure to stressors
Your surroundings can significantly impact your mental well-being. Try taking a break from things that stress you out -- like toxic relationships or watching cable news 24-hours a day.
Practice gratitude
Nothing will pull you away from fear of the unknown faster than focusing on what you’re thankful for right now. Regularly identifying things you're thankful for shifts your focus from what's missing or uncertain, to what's abundant in your life.
Set realistic expectations
Don't spend too much time trying to seek perfection. Allow yourself time for rest and self-care to help reduce stress and worry.
Accept what you can't control
Some things are beyond your influence, and that's okay. Focus on the actions you can take, and try to let go of the rest.
Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
DON'T WORRY -- BE HAPPY!
