Worry and stress are powerful emotions, but most of the time they’re spent on things we can’t control. Our minds jump to worst-case scenarios, imagining outcomes that rarely—if ever—come true. The truth is, most of what we worry about never actually happens.
Think about a common situation: you visit the doctor and are told you need more tests. Your mind immediately assumes something is wrong. Yet often, these tests are simply routine steps—tools doctors use to rule things out. Even the doctor doesn’t know the outcome until the results arrive. All that anxiety we feel beforehand is based on guesses, not facts.
Or imagine a time when change is on the horizon—a new job, a move, a shift in your routine. Our instinct often assumes change will lead to something negative. But what if we approached change differently? What if we allowed ourselves to believe that the outcome could actually be good? The truth is, change often brings opportunities, growth, and unexpected joy. By choosing to assume that change will support us, we welcome new experiences with curiosity instead of fear—and open doors to possibilities we might otherwise miss.
When we worry ahead of time, it becomes a mental guessing game. We experience emotional suffering before we even know if there’s anything to fear, losing precious time we can’t get back.
Why We Worry About the Worst
Human brains are wired for survival. In the past, scanning for danger kept us alive. Today, that same instinct often turns into worrying about things that are not immediate threats—like test results, future decisions, or outcomes we can’t predict. When we feed these thoughts, we give energy to scenarios that aren’t even real, draining ourselves in the process.
Focusing on What You Can Control
If you can’t control the outcome, what can you control?
Your mindset.
You get to choose whether you assume things will go well or fall apart. If you imagine a positive outcome, your body relaxes. If you imagine the worst, your body tenses. The only thing that changed was your perspective.
Choosing a positive outlook isn’t denial—it’s choosing peace over unnecessary suffering. It’s deciding not to let worry steal your day.
Why Preemptive Worrying Is a Waste of Time
How many times have you worried about something for hours, days, or weeks, only for everything to turn out fine? All of that emotional energy was spent on a situation that never happened. And if something challenging does arise, you’ll deal with it when it’s real. You don’t have to live the difficult moments twice—once in your imagination and once in reality.
Worrying in advance doesn’t protect you; it only exhausts you.
A New Way to Move Through Life
Imagine how life would feel if, instead of preparing for the worst, you trusted that things will work out. Not because life is perfect, but because you’re capable—because you can handle whatever comes.
This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges. It means choosing not to suffer over possibilities that may never unfold. The more you stay present, grounded, and open to positive outcomes, the more vibrant and peaceful your life becomes.
Worry is a habit—but it’s one you can change. You can choose to let go of unnecessary stress and live in the moment, expecting good things rather than bracing for the worst. Life is meant to be lived, not worried away.
Mantra
I would rather feel happy and peaceful, then worry about all the things that could go wrong.
There is always enough time to worry, once I know if and what I am worrying about.
A New Era Therapy 