101 Strategies to Combat Worry

By Keith Smith

Worry can paralyze our lives. It keeps us from moving forward in peace and confidence. This book will arm you with the weapons you need to change the way you think. You will learn new strategies to destroy the habit of worry, and employ new, more productive habits. 101 Strategies to Combat Worry divides these strategies into six areas of our lives; mental, spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, and financial. Learn to identify worry patterns and stop wasting your life!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Keith Smith
• Release date: Nov 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465928511

Keith Smith

Keith Smith is a retired computer consultant with a long-standing interest in South African military history. He has published several books on the subject, including Harry Smith’s Last Throw, also published by Frontline Books.

Book preview

101 STRATEGIES TO COMBAT WORRY

By: Keith A. Smith and Susan K. Smith

Copyright 2011 by Keith A. Smith and Susan K. Smith

Cover Copyright 2011 by: Keith and Susan Smith

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Unless otherwise stated: Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

WITH THANKS TO...

Our friends and mentors: Tommy Newberry, Stephen Covey, Dan Miller, Dave Ramsey, Zig Ziglar, Joyce Meyer, Brett and Alex Harris, Cory Weatherton, and many more. While we have never met most of these people they have been instrumental in changing our way of thinking.

Thanks to our parents, my friends, and family who have put up with our through all of this, especially those who took the time to read through and edit this book.

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO...

Our all-loving, all-forgiving, all-powerful heavenly Father without whom we would not be the people we are today.

For more information on Worry Coaching or speaking engagements we may be contacted at:

[e-mail]

To view our website go to http://www.drworry.com.

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: MENTAL

CHAPTER 2: SPIRITUAL

CHAPTER 3: EMOTIONAL

CHAPTER 4: RELATIONAL

CHAPTER 5: PHYSICAL

CHAPTER 6: FINANCIAL

SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

30 DAY WORRY CHALLENGE

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INTRODUCTION

People may wonder why we decided to write a book on worry. What gives us the authority to write a book on worry? We are not psychologists or medical doctors. We're just ordinary people that have struggled with worry, fear, anxiety, and the like all of our lives.

When I, Keith, was a child, I would worry all the time. By the time I was 10 or 12, I had stomach ulcers. I would literally vomit on Monday mornings or even Sunday nights, thinking about going to school. I feel like I've wasted a large portion of my life being paralyzed by fear and anxiety and worry. I have found a way of life that is much better. I do have peace in my life and that is why I decided to write this book. I want to help others find the same peace I have found.

I believe that worry, fear, anxiousness, and depression are symptoms of a lack of belief in a power greater than myself that is brought about by self-centeredness and pride. They are poor habitual coping mechanisms that I used to deal with life. The problem came from my self-centeredness, perfectionism, fear of rejection, unbelief, and pride. I did not think God would really take care of me or that I was good enough for God to take care of me. I believed in God, in his existence, but I really didn't know how much he loves me and you.

The key word in the last paragraph was think. My thinking was out of whack. God does love me and nothing I do can change that He just does. When I start thinking he doesn't love me is when I get into trouble. I think I have to control things and if I don't then they're going to get messed up. This is flawed thinking and it usually generates a cycle of flawed thinking.

For me it starts with a thought, usually regarding something I can't do anything about. From there it goes and grows into a flood of thoughts that are usually negative. Such thoughts as...my boss casually mentions that he wants me to stop into his office when I get back from my trip. Then, my mind starts racing. I begin to rehash the past few days in my head. Did I do anything wrong? There was that guy who flipped me off when I wouldn't let him in front of me. I wonder if I'm going to get fired. I should have let him in. Is there anything else I did or didn't do in the last few days? Oh, how am I going to support my family, if I get fired? Over and over in my head this crop of thoughts lead down and down to the point that, when I do get to his office, I've talked myself into thinking, I'm not a very good employee and I deserve to be fired.

I'm serious. That's just an example, but I would do that kind of a thing quite often. When I was a child, I was on vacation with my family out in Milwaukee and I heard a newscast on the radio about Legionnaires Disease breaking out on the east coast. I remember being worried sick because I thought I was going to die, or someone I knew was going to die from it. On and on, out of control with my thoughts.

What if there's a better way? What if I did not worry? Is that even possible? How would that make you feel?