Page 121 - 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself

I once came up with a system for action that helped turn my worrying habits

completely around. I would list the five things that I was worried about—
perhaps they were four projects at work and the fifth was my son’s trouble he
was having with a certain teacher. I would then decide to spend five minutes on
each problem doing something, anything. By deciding this, I knew I was
committing myself to 25 minutes of activity, but no more so it didn’t feel at all
overwhelming.

Then I could make a game of it. On project one, a seminar workbook
deadline for a new course, I’d spend five minutes writing it. Maybe I only got
the first two pages done, but it felt great. It felt like I’d finally started it.

Then on item number two, a meeting I knew I had to have with a client over
a sticky contract issue, I would call his office and schedule the meeting and put it
in my calendar. That, too, felt good.

My third worry, a stack of correspondence I needed to answer, I would take
five minutes sorting and stacking and putting them into a folder that was
separate from the other clutter on my desk. That felt satisfying, too. The fourth
item was a travel arrangement that had to be worked out. I’d take no more than
five minutes looking at my calendar and leaving a voice mail for my travel agent
to fax me some alternatives on the trip.

Finally, on the matter of my son, I would pull out a piece of paper and write

a short letter to his teacher expressing my concern for him, my support of her
efforts, and my desire to arrange a meeting quickly, so all three of us could sit
down together and make some agreements.

All of that took 25 minutes. And the five things that were worrying me the
most were no longer worrying me. I could then go back anytime later and work
them to completion. If something is worrying you, always do something about it.
It doesn’t have to be the big thing that will make it disappear. It can be any small
thing. But the positive effect it will have on you will be enormous.

Anything that worries you should be acted on, not just thought about. Don’t
be scared about the action; you can make it very small and easy, as long as you
take action. Even small actions will chase away your fears. Fear has a hard time

coexisting with action. When there’s action, there’s no fear. When there’s fear,
there’s no action.

The next time you’re worried about something, ask yourself, “What small
thing can I do right now?” Then do it. Remember not to ask, “What could I