Face Your Fears

No one wants to worry. Anxiety is counter-productive, time consuming, and unpleasant—but for so many of us, it’s difficult to dispel.

Dale Carnegie, the author of the time-tested classic HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING, urged readers to let go of worry in the name of happiness and health. But he also understood that this advice is easier said than done.

According to Carnegie, the best way to stop worrying is to imagine the worst-case scenario, and then accept it.

Instinctively, people resist this step because facing the worst-case scenario causes emotional distress. But that distress is usually temporary (especially compared to worry, which tends to linger). Accepting the possibility of a negative outcome is often the first step in actively preventing that outcome. When the worry goes away, emotional paralysis lifts and decisive action becomes possible.

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