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Manage the fear and anxiety of the unknown

Almost everybody worries about what will happen in the future. The prospect of not knowing if something good or bad will happen in the near future can produce a lot of fear and anxiety. As a result, use these techniques and suggestions to manage this fear of dealing with the unknown.

First, remember that no one can predict the future with 100% certainty.

Even if the thing that you are afraid of does happen, there are circumstances and factors that you can’t predict which can be used to your advantage.

For instance, let’s say at your place of work that you miss the deadline for a project you have been working on for the last few months. Everything you feared is coming true; however, your boss suddenly comes to your office and tells you that the deadline is extended and that he forgot to tell you the day before. This unknown factor changes everything.

Remember that people may be 99% correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that 1% to make a world of difference.

Also, learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or coming month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide people with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. When the time comes, hopefully you will have learned the skills to deal with your situation.

Sometimes, people can get anxious over a task that they will have to perform in the near future. When this scenario happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship volleyball game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that you’re playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self-visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation and increase your self-confidence.

Remember to take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get your mind off your anxieties and stresses. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper, watch TV, play on the computer or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. It will distract you from your current worries.

A lot of times, our worrying can make the problem even worse. All the worrying in the world will not change anything. All you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best and when something does happen, take it in stride. If you still have trouble managing your anxiety of the future, talking to a counselor or clergyman can be of great help. There are ways to help manage fear, and all it takes is some effort to find those answers.

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non-resistant Methods.” For more information, visit http://www.managingfear.com.

 

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