Our ancestors worried about starvation. They worried about tigers or bears coming into their camps. They worried about injuries leading to infection and death. These worries were valid, as they had no access to grocery stores, got eaten by tigers and bears, and even minor injuries could cost them their lives. I’m not sure what percentage of those things that they worried about actually came to fruition, but I do know that in this day and age, 85% to 90% of what we worry about never happens.
We spend a lot of time thinking about all the things that can go wrong in our lives. On one hand, this wiring has helped us survive as a species. But if left unchecked, that primitive wiring can disrupt our productivity, our happiness, and the overall quality of our lives. Today, our minds race all day long, bouncing from worry to worry. We fill our thoughts with what needs to get done, what we did not get done, what we should have done differently, and what we should do next.
Is your worrying holding you back? Are you stifling your business, frustrating your teammates, or shackling your co-workers with a worrier mentality? Have you let worry block you from exploring paths that would expand your life? Has worry kept you from seeking adventures that would have enriched you?
The people that do achieve greatness, invent new products, create new designs, and get remembered are not worriers… they are warriors. Being a warrior opens new doors and allows for personal development and growth. Warriors get more done, change more lives, and have less regret.
There is a misperception that warrior-type people are reckless, careless, and possibly even dangerous. True warriors analyze, think, compare, and contemplate, but they do it quickly. Worriers often let new ideas cause them great stress, even getting overwhelmed, and can suffer from “paralysis from analysis.”
It’s worth taking a moment and thinking… am I a worrier or a warrior? Do you embrace new ideas or dismiss them? Are you threatened by change or excited by it? Are you resentful of others as they succeed, or are you motivated by them? Do you jump in on new opportunities or shy away from them?
Much of what we do is programmed in us and isn’t easy to change. And you may not want to, or need to, change. But if you are not feeling fulfilled, have regrets from missing out in the past, or find yourself reflexively dodging every new opportunity, some self-assessment could be useful. Think of a time when you reluctantly went along with something, or were forced to utilize a new procedure or product, only to realize how much value it added to your life.
A good place to start is to at least occasionally open your mind (and heart) to the change, challenges, and adventures that come your way. Instead of asking why… ask why not? Instead of asking what could go wrong… ask what could go right? Instead of asking why me… ask why not me?
Remember… we are wired to worry. It served our species well for a long, long time. It is natural and instinctual to worry. It has been said that bravery is not being unafraid, but being afraid and doing it anyway. Feeling worry is okay, but letting it paralyze you is not. I must repeat that almost everything (85%-90%) that we worry about never happens. Being a little more of a warrior, and less of a worrier, could radically improve your life experience.