Quote of the Week – Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. Proverb
There is no shortage of quotes on the web when it comes to the topic of worrying. This week’s quote addresses the topic in a fairly light-hearted way.
Yet, while our quote suggests that worrying is a waste of time, it leaves several questions unanswered. For example, why does worrying seem to be so common? Also, isn’t worrying sometimes a good thing?
In our work with ADHD college students, we often hear that both the students and their parents are “worried” about how well the student is doing at school. Yet, let’s take a look at how “worry” is usually defined. As a verb, it is described as “Giving way to anxiety” or “Stewing about something.” Another definition you will see is “Overthinking: thinking about something too much or for too long.”
As a noun, worry has been defined as “A state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.” None of this sounds like a very good way to spend our time! However, most of us know people who seem to be worried about something virtually every time we see them. Perhaps you know someone like that! Maybe you ARE someone like that!
Questions for Reflection
- How much or how often do you worry?
- How is worrying benefiting you (if at all)?
- What can you do to reduce the time that you spend worrying?
- Do you think that you can completely stop worrying? How would you do that?
- Would other people describe you as a worrier?
Stayed tuned for upcoming posts on Mindfulness, a great strategy for reducing or eliminating worry.
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