It is well known that there are many things that cause unnecessary anxiety in my life. I have come to a big realization. I should ask myself what the worst possible outcome would be. What if things didn’t happen the way I felt they needed to happen? Would it really be as bad as I perceived? Eventually I realized that sometimes it wouldn’t be the worst thing. In fact, at times it is a relief.

I worry a lot about second guessing. I wonder if the things I set in place will really happen. For the longest time, I was overthinking the worst possible outcome. If something didn’t happen, I would do all the necessary things to make sure it would happen. At times, I felt I was overly concerned. I kept confirming if something would actually happen.

I have been more diligent in creating tools to make sure what I say is going to happen. I do this so I do not have to go back and check that what I said is there. It’s like I cast a shadow of doubt that it disappeared or that it wasn’t done. Yes, mistakes happen. Still, double checking goes a long way. Having my own personal confirmation system reassures me. It assures me that I did the work at my end.

But it is understanding the worst possible outcome. This occurs when something doesn’t happen the way we think it should. Is it the worst thing that will happen to us? Maybe it is the relief that we need? Things happen and people for the most part understand that things happen. It is always good to document things that you plan in advance. This provides reassurance. Trust that documentation. Do not second guess what you know has been documented to you.

In those moments of anticipation, it can be especially difficult to think that something is going to happen or not. You will want to second guess if it is going to happen. Nonetheless, you must use the coping skills that you have. Reassurance tools are among the steps in helping you get through the challenging times. By all means, if something doesn’t happen in the time that it is supposed to, check on it. Be appropriate in the checking process. Do not get angry if things do not go according to plan.

When that worst case scenario does happen, think to yourself, is it really worth being angry or upset about? Is it worth making the day the really worth all the feelings that you want to put out? What can you do to make it a better day? Something didn’t go the way you think it should have. Or it didn’t happen to you in the way you thought it should. Does it mean that you pass your feelings on to those that you target? Sometimes it’s making things better than what you perceive them to be when those things you think are bad happen.

Anxiety is often a course of action that comes to mind when I think about things not happening. I want to jump to conclusions or seek reassurance from others. Still, I also know that I need to give my own reassurance. I must do my due diligence to cope with my anxiety by knowing that everything is just fine. If the worst possible scenario does happen, I accept it. It’s not the worst thing that happen in my overall life. Sometimes, it is what I need to happen in my life to give the relief I need.