Trying to Keep Fear in Check

I have always been a worrier! I can't think of a time in my life when I didn't worry, it's just my nature. Sometimes that does me wel and most of the time it just makes my wind wander to scary places and causes my body to tense up. It's really no wonder that I have stomach problems at all. However as a parent, I find that I could be consumed with worry constantly if I let myself. Particularly in this scary for everyone economy where times are so uncertain and rough, and none of us know what the future holds. I could let myself get swept away and really consumed with worry, but I'm trying to talk myself out of it. I would be a total nut job if I gave into my worry as much as it comes up. I do however worry about what the world will be like as my daughter gets older. I think as a parent of how scary it is with all the job loss, tight financial times that everyone faces, and of course war and crime.....it really can overtake you if you let it.

I'm finding however that it serves me better as a parent and a person to let some of the worry go from time to time. Thinking positive thoughts and reassuring myself that "it will all be okay" goes a lot further. I think that finding these coping mechanisms early on in your children's lives can do you well becaues there will always be things to worry about, and the problems will only get bigger. Right now I worry about getting more work, my husband's job, our finances, and of coruse Faith walking and talking as she should. Think ahead about 5 years and I'll be worrying about how she's doing in school or if she's keeping up.....then it will be if she's going to make the team....then her dating....then getting into college. Okay so the lesson to me today is to try and get a handle on my fears and concerns. I recently coined a phrase in our house--"turn your fears and worries into gratitude and happiness". Hard one to live by but I did like how it sounded! Now I need to live it, so here's hoping that "it all works out"!