It’s like a train wreck (in more ways than one!) You know you shouldn’t, but you can’t help yourself—you gotta look. Everywhere you turn there’s news about the economy, housing prices, foreclosures, credit crunch, Wall Street, gas prices and here in the south--gas shortage. The only people that are flourishing these days are the financial experts who seem to be on every TV program.

It's no wonder that many optimistic people are becoming worriers. Worry makes us feel like we are doing something. We become movie producers of our own mind soap operas—visualizing scene after scene. But the only thing worry accomplishes is that it prevents you from enjoying a day with lots of possibilities.

As Dr Phil would say, “How’s that working for you?” Take these three prescriptions and call me in the morning.

1. Positive thought diet. Barnes and Nobel must have thousands of diet books for your weight--how about one for your mind? We may not be able to control Wall Street or Congress, but we can control our thoughts. When you find you are rehearsing your worry script, get out your Mind Remote Control and change the channel (many of you have had lots of practice with remote controls). Replace your worry with a positive thought replacement (commonly called an affirmation).

2. Start or dust off your gratitude journal. Keep a small notebook where you eat or on your night stand and write at least one thing I’m grateful for each day. For those of you who have families or in a relationship—how about making it a family dinner tradition--share the best thing that happened that day.

3. Worry De-tox program.
Make a list of all your worries--on paper.
Check off the ones you can actually do something about.
Identify what steps you can take. Do the ones you can do today.
Schedule other remaining steps in your BlackBerry or calendar.
Let go of the rest. Review your list periodically—not to exceed ten minutes a day.

These are challenging times and letting go of worry isn't easy. I've been known to worry myself a time or two. But when I surrender what I can't control, I feel lighter--like a weight is lifted off my shoulders (it has).

When something bad happened to you in the past, somehow you got through it. If the worst does happen, be confident that you will find that same strength.

“Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere.” The United Church Observer

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