Why is it that it’s so easy to worry about anything? And like something combustible, it we continue to worry, we simply feed the fire and eventually get sick. Maybe you’ve never been there, and if not – good for you – but for the millions who struggle with this very natural feeling, let me tell you how I work with it.

I bet if you’re worrying, you don’t have a game plan written down with a lot of specifics. I’m not talking about a to-do list. I mean sitting down and writing out your goals for this year. If you want a really cool sheet for doing this, shoot me an email and I’ll send it to you. This is a must.

When you have where you’re going in clarity, everything else falls in place. And the first step in busting worry is defining the situation clearly in writing. So much I have found can be solved just by defining the issue. As they say, “Accurate diagnosis is half the cure.”

See that notepad on your desk? Grab a pencil and write what is the worst possible outcome of the situation. What’s the absolute worst? Get this clear in your mind and on paper.

And yikes – not sure you’re gonna like this one, but it’s being willing to have it so. Say, what? Resolve to accept the worst should it occur. That’s my first piece of advice – being willing to have it so. Once you resolve to accept this, well… your mind will become more calm and clear and you’ll be ready to snap out of depression and take action.

Got it? If you’re dwelling on the problem instead of the solution, you’ll be depressed. Time is on your side, most of the time – you will have enough time to work out this plan.

Snapping out of that mood is like someone throwing cold water on you – your state changes and you say – OK, that was interesting – now, I got to get down to work. OK? If you’re not clear on this, use the contact form and I’ll make sure to explain it more.

Now that you and I are clear on that – the next step is to do something. Take some action. What I suggest is begin immediately doing everything possible to improve the worst.

Still worrying?

Worry is just a sustained form of fear caused by indecision. Wanna know how to get over it? ACTION. Get your butt in gear and do something about your situation. And guess what? You won’t have time to worry. Take action and watch your confidence rise, your courage and control returns. And fear… is gone.

Still have the paper handy? Make a list down one side of the things that you believe are stressing you out. Next on the other side of the page, write the worst possible thing that could happen as a result. And tell me if this doesn’t help the worry just disappear!

I know my buddy Chris Widener has a nice session on how to stay motivated.  And I’ve been to a dozen or more seminars with the great speakers and have around that many notebooks around the house with tons of notes taken while soaking in the best way to stay motivated.

Since January 1 has come and gone and you may not be doing all the fun things you planned for this year, this might be a good refresher on how to quickly get back on the wagon.  And if you’re already there, print this out and hand it to a friend.

It all boils down to 5 things – here they are:

1. Write out a clear life plan – your ultimate goals – and refer to this plan often.
2. Exercise – Yikes!  You knew this would be in here somewhere.  Just look at the people who have it together in life.  Increasing your heart rate increases your energy level to tackle other goals.  Thus, no exercising close to bed time.
3. When undertaking a lengthy and difficult project, especially something you DON’T want to do, imagine what you’d like to be doing when finished – like eating a great meal, see a cool movie, read a good book – and make this task a priority.
4. Keep your WHY in front of your eye.  Do you want a new iPhone, car, more time with the family, a new netbook?  Keep a photo of your goal on your desk or where you will see it often.
5. Figure out how much sleep works for you.  I know I cover this often.  It’s because I was the biggest cheater on sleep in the world, next to my son, Dennis.  But it catches up with you.  Especially in health.  The body needs time to repair itself.  Most of us need six to eight hours.  Adequate sleep fuels inspiration and clarity and helps maintain healthy eating.

That is all for now.  If you follow a few of those, you’re doing good.  If you want to make it happen this year – follow all of them.  Make them your boss!

Questions?

I don’t like the way that sounds – fake it until you make it – because it sounds like you’re trying to be dishonest about yourself.  But are you?  Can you be?

The answer to the second question is, Certainly!  It’s called acting!  And we ALL do it in some shape or form.  In everything we do when we are in the presence of another person, and when we feel we are communicating in some way with God or anything else, we put on a facade that allows us to project how we want the person or, funny in a way, God, to see us.

Many things make up the way we will change that “person” we become.  For example, if we’re trying to entice a neighbor to look at an opportunity we are in, we will treat them with respect and go overboard to be nice.  We will act different when they respond to our offer.

We strive to be cool, for the most part, but many times we just act acceptable only because we have no standard to live by, or to act by.

So when someone tells you to Fake It Till You Make It – you really need to know – Fake What?  What am I supposed to be living up to?  And this standard can be seen in all of the better corporations and families who take the time to teach their kids a mission statement to live by.  Two companies come to mind, both Apple Computers and Starbucks Coffee.  When you walk into an Apple store, you’re met by employees who stick to a high standard.  Same at Starbucks.  Their training is constant.

Are they like that at home?

No.  But the person they put on at work fits the workplace.  And that’s what you can do when you’re working your opportunity, too.  But where the Fake It part comes in is where you are told to act as if you’ve achieved a certain level in your business or in life.

I’ve heard this called “self-concept” or “ideal-self.”  And tomorrow I’m going to tell you how you can use this philosophy to your advantage.  So don’t miss that.  We’ll do a little dream work and an exercise in getting clarity.  And the timing in your life couldn’t be better, right?

See you then.