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OUR FEARS AND WORRIES CAN DISTORT THE
REALITY OF THE SITUATION
By: Stanley Popovich
At times, our worries and anxieties can overwhelm us. In addition, our
worries can distort our perception of what is reality and what is not.
As a result, this may interfere with your game. Here is a brief list of
techniques that a sports athlete can use to help gain a better
perspective on things during their anxious moments.
When feeling anxious, stop what you are doing and try to do something
relaxing. A person should take a deep breath and try to find something
to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem. A person
could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that
will give them a fresh perspective on things.
Remember that our fearful thoughts are exaggerated and can make the
problem worse. A good way to manage your worry is to challenge your
negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When
encountering thoughts that make your fearful or anxious, challenge those
thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and
common sense.
When overwhelmed with worry, a person may encounter a lot of scary
thoughts coming at them all at once. Instead of getting upset, remember
that these thoughts are exaggerated and are not based on reality. From
my interviews with various professionals, I’ve learned that usually it
is the fear behind the thoughts that gets us worked up. Ignore the fear
behind these thoughts and your worry should decrease.
Remember that all the worrying in the world will not change anything.
Most of what we worry about never comes true. Instead of worrying about
something that probably won’t happen, concentrate on what you are able
to do. Everything else you can leave in the hands of God.
In every anxiety-related situation you experience, begin to learn what
works, what doesn’t work, and what you need to improve on in managing
your fears and anxieties. For instance, you have a lot of anxiety and
you decide to take a walk to help you feel better. The next time you
feel anxious you can remind yourself that you got through it the last
time by taking a walk. This will give you the confidence to manage your
anxiety the next time around.
It is not easy to deal with all of our fears and worries. When your
fears and anxieties have the best of you, try to calm down and then get
the facts of the situation. The key is to take it slow. All you can do
is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and when something does
happen, take it in stride. Take it one step at a time and things will
work out.
BIOGRAPHY:
Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using
Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read
book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective
in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information
go to:
http://www.managingfear.com/ |
