Was that a necessary thought?

Or just another meddling worry?

Faced with a situation that requires us to respond, we usually do one of two things. We put on our thinking cap, analyze the situation, and find a solution.

Or we worry, a negative response. We go over and over things that might happen, which makes us anxious. We find ourselves fixating on the negative what-ifs that keep circling around our heads. Perhaps we blame ourselves for having made a serious mistake and worry about possible outcomes. Perhaps we fear what might happen if things go against us in tomorrow’s meeting at work. Worrying involves anxiety and unhappiness.

Let’s get back to thinking—the more positive, creative process. Thinking can fix problems; worrying increases them. Understanding this, the next time you notice mental agitation or sense a feeling of unease, check to see whether you might have slipped over the thin line between thinking and worrying.