Lemon #31. How to
and solve worry problems
While reading «How to stop worrying and start living», this is what we learned:
When you get worried about anything, follow these three steps:
- Get the facts.
- Analyse the facts.
- Arrive at a decision and then act on that decision.
Aristotle taught that formula and used it. Why is so important to get the facts? Because unless we have the facts we can’t possibly even attempt to solve our problem intelligently. Without the facts, all we can do is stew around in confusion. Half the worry in the world is caused by people trying to make decisions before they have sufficient knowledge on which to base a decision.
If a person will devote his or her time to securing facts in an impartial, objective way, his or her worries will usually evaporate in the light of knowledge.
But what do most of us do? We hunt like bird dogs after the facts that bolster up what we already think and ignore all the others. We want only the facts that justify our acts-the facts that fit in conveniently with our wishful thinking and justify our preconceived prejudices.
I find that fifty per cent of my worries vanishes once I arrive at a clear, definite decision; and another forty per cent usually vanishes once I start to carry out that decision. So, I banish about ninety per cent of my worries by taking these four steps:
- Writing down precisely what I am worrying about.
- Writing down what I can do about it.
- Deciding what to do.
- Starting immediately to carry out that decision.
Once you’ve made a careful decision based on facts, go into action. Don’t stop to reconsider. Don’t begin to hesitate worry and retrace your steps. There comes a time when we must decide and act and never look back.
So, when you’re worried about anything, remember:
- Ask yourself: what am I worrying about?
- Ask yourself: what can I do about it?
- Say to yourself: here’s what I’m going to do about it.
Dale Carnegie @ How to stop worrying and start living.
Jorge Moreno
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