Worry, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

Author: Liz Singer

I have been trying to figure out what I wanted to write for this spring newsletter and have had many false starts. As I reviewed why I was struggling, I realized I was feeling so much anxiety and anticipation.

Spring used to signify new beginnings. Yet this year feels like it has a lot of endings... Schools are getting out earlier and it has me feeling all kinds of unsettled thoughts.

I have two college kids and one is graduating from college next week! Super exciting but... she was a 2020 high school grad, so she did not get an actual graduation at that time. That is causing some real PTSD. The fear of something going wrong and destroying our plans is real!

As a parent of young adults, the concept of feeling overwhelmed is one I am (unfortunately) extremely familiar with. The past couple of days I have spoken to parents, kids, and professionals all feeling some type of anxiety or overwhelming feeling. There is plenty to “worry” about and a lot to do. It all runs together, and it can paralyze us.

What is worry? I think it's a pre-emptive strike before we have to make a decision. I was once told by a trusted friend; “Worry is a wasted emotion. It holds you back from the solution.” Worry is the fear of what can happen. Identifying the solution can mobilize us. Creating some momentum helps. A plan is a blueprint for us to understand our options. And make contingency plans (plan b & c) to work from. A roadmap of sorts. While we can’t rely on a plan to solve everything, it beats “thinking” and ruminating over all the options... How do you handle stress? Feelings of anxiety or of being overwhelmed? A key component, in my opinion, is to focus on what you can control and what you can do now. All the “what ifs” creates so much uncertainty. Make a simple plan and move one piece at a time. Getting ahead of ourselves creates more anxiety and more fear. Worry is the first step to getting a plan but not the destination.

Breathe!