Sometimes we create our own problems out of mere habit. For example, if you don’t consider yourself a good writer, your first reaction to having to write a school essay might be fear, anxiety, and worry. If your classes are about report-based or research-based writing, your main reaction may be to postpone writing until the last minute. Over the next few minutes let’s just look at how procrastination plays a role in making your fear, anxiety and worry more painful than it needs to be. What benefits do you get from those three emotions? Why is it such an easy set of answers for you? Finally we’ll look at how a little tailoring will make it easier for you to overcome fear, dread and worry and ultimately transform fear and worry into your best friends – and, yes, it can actually happen!
First there is fear. You’re afraid of failing, you’re afraid that it (whatever “it” is) won’t be perfect and you’ll have to redo it. Fear that someone will see it and post it on the Internet as “one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done, written, said, etc. Fear prevents you from starting. In fact, fear even makes you so insensitive that you don’t ‘ T realizes that you are even afraid.If you could accept the fear, perhaps the first change you would make would actually be learning how to write with authority.Tatch the fear and find a good book or eBook about writing quickly with savages.Of course, after when you note something, you will want to start working on editing.
Self-criticism with editing leads us to the following critical response: anxiety.
You will feel anxious if you have a report to write, no matter how many weeks there are before the deadline. The best thing is to face your fear. But facing fear only causes anxiety and worry (which we will address in a moment). This time, there is anxiety or stress that grows in your gut (solar plexus) and makes you forget to note the deadline. Maybe you’ll get so stressed out when you think about writing that paper that you attack friends, family, and classmates for no obvious (at least to them) reason. Your middle name becomes “Road Rage Monster” and people stop inviting you to parties.
If this is you, it’s extremely important that you take out your date book and mark a large red circle around your deadline. Then create a schedule to write two sentences – or two paragraphs or two pages – a day. The time frame will of course depend on the time you have left to complete the paperwork. Finally, write something down as soon as you write it down in your diary. Actually do something to start the task. Ekagi!
Once you get to work through the task, you may begin to experience a third emotion: be careful. Your stress and anxiety has been alleviated by actually writing a to-do list while you work to meet your deadline. The bad thing now is that you suddenly fear that you won’t be able to do all the things on your “to do” list. At this point, it’s time to be honest – are the things on your “to-do” list really humanly possible? Think seriously about both the amount of time you have left to write the report, and the other things in your life. When writing a report is not your usual activity, you will have to rearrange some things in your life to complete the writing. A little thought-out schedule and care could miraculously turn into courage and self-confidence.
Fear, anxiety and worry can exist in your life. Ultimately it’s up to you – do you decide to ignore fear, worry and do nothing but worry? Or do you acknowledge the fear, accept the anxiety, and get over it? Whichever path you decide to take, you will have to act. Maybe you have tried to do this action before and failed. That is no reason to give up. Overcoming fear, anxiety, and worry begins with a decision to find ultimate success in doing what you need to do. Ultimately success or failure depends on you.
