My morning routine now includes my dog sitting on my feet. I make coffee, she’s sitting on my feet. I stand at the mirror putting on my make-up, she’s sitting on my feet. I sit on the toilet, she’s sitting on my feet! She’s desperate to get as close to me as she can. Why? Well morning means two things: I take her for a walk and then I leave. The first she loves, the second she hates. So she worries; that I’ll walk without her, that she will be alone when I leave.

I wish I could tell her that no amount of worry is going to change what is. I’m taking her or I’m not and during the day I have to leave. She expends a lot of energy sticking to me like glue but it doesn’t change the outcome, it only frustrates me and puts me in danger of breaking my neck when I trip over her. But I have to say I do this too-not the sitting on someone’s feet part-but the worrying part. I’ve often thought if only I had a crystal ball to see the outcome of this or that situation, boy I could save a lot of worrying. I think it’s an important concept to remember. No amount of worry has ever changed an outcome, not as far as I know.

Whatever I’m worrying about, Kim always says, “It’s unfolding perfectly.” I used to greet that with a grumble but if you try it, it really takes the worry wheel down a notch. If it’s really unfolding perfectly then I don’t have anything to worry about do I? I’ve been telling that to my little nervous dog and I hope she’ll get it one day soon. In the meantime, I’m getting really good at navigating my morning with 30 pounds on my feet!

I have to admit that I used to worry about EVERYTHING; you name it, and I worried about it. But then one day I realized that all of my worrying wasn't making an ounce of difference in the outcome of anything in my life; with the exception of the fact that it was taking a big toll on my physical and emotional well-being.

So I started to pay attention to what I was worrying about, and I began to realize that most of the things I was stressing myself out over were things that were outside of my control. This realization was truly life-changing for me! I started an intentional practice of asking myself this very important question, "do I have any control over the outcome?" If the answer was yes, then I'd take positive action to improve the outcome; but if the answer was no (which it often was), then I'd tell myself "everything is unfolding perfectly!" This became my personal mantra to stave off the worry monster. I found myself saying it so often that I eventually starting believing it. And now I truly live my life knowing that it's true; everything IS unfolding perfectly ALL the time (for me AND for you!)

So, if you are a worrier like I was, I invite you to let go of the need to worry, and join me as a recovering worrier. Let go of the things that are outside your control, and know that your life is unfolding perfectly. I promise it will change your life!