Last year, I had to put my 12-year old Golden Retriever, Bogey, to sleep. She was suffering from a brain tumor. The ride to the vet was horrific. My husband and I were both in tears, barely able to drive the car. Bogey was in the back seat unaware of her impending death. The idea that we were about to surprise her with ending her life haunted me. But looking back, I now see that it was a blessing that she didn’t know what was about to happen to her. She lived until she didn’t.

Dogs truly embody the meaning of living life for each minute. As humans, we have the tendency to look to the future with concern or anticipation. We waste so much time today worrying about tomorrow. We often tend to shovel the snow before it falls.

Speaking for myself, I have wasted so many hours of my precious time worrying about tomorrow – worrying about things that never ended up happening.

By worrying about tomorrow, we are, in essence, worrying about things that are outside of our control. This behavior is unproductive and unhealthy.

So, how do you deal with this?

I have been on this journey of self improvement for three years. And during that time, I have learned a lot about what behaviors are useful in the battle against chronic worry.

Below are five simple steps you can take to get your worrying under control:

1. Stop worrying about tomorrow and enjoy today. Be more conscious of what you could be doing right now rather than worrying about a future that you do not know. You don't have a crystal ball, so don't act as though you do.
2. Let go and let God. There is a bigger Being than yourself who is in control of your life. Therefore, when times are tough, put your life in His hands and recognize that you cannot control everything. “Let go and let God." There is strength in those words.
3. Remember that you cannot control things that happen to you, but you can control how you react to them. Life simply cannot go exactly as you plan. Things happen to all of us that we don't like. And sometimes things happen to us that are downright devastating. Be cognizant of how you choose to look at those things that happen to you... how you choose to react to those things that happen to you… how you choose to respond to those things that happen to you. As a result, you will see yourself as a person of strength and not a victim.
4. Allow room for failure. “The road to success is always under construction” – Author unknown. These words are so simple, yet say so much. It is impossible to achieve success without failure. Allow for back-steps. Hold yourself to a more reasonable standard. Each step backwards is helping you to move forward.
5. Recognize your progress. It’s easy to see progress when big steps are taken. It's much harder to see the small steps.  Take note of all steps forward, no matter how small. When you recognize your forward movement, your confidence will benefit greatly.

The tendency to worry may seem overwhelming at times.  You have likely spent a lifetime married to this behavior.  It would therefore stand to reason that you will not stop worrying overnight.  But with time, practice and self awareness, you will get there. 

"Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is, with thoughts of what may be." - John Dryden