What if?

Just before I took this picture, I wondered if I should be out for a walk, because it looked like rain, but I would have missed this shot.

Life’s worries overwhelm us everyday and the tone of worry in our voices cause us to fear doing what we need to do. In fact the tone of worry goes deeper and impacts our hearts and lives in almost every area. Many of us run through life with a great deal of worry and insecurity, and we question our decisions and direction all the time.

• What if I fail?
• What if I lose?
• What if I get hurt?
• What if I get sick?
• What it I cant do it?
• What if I look foolish?
• What if I lose my job?
• What if I don't get that job?
• What if I can’t pay the bills?
• What if I get in over my head?
• What if I don't get called back?
• What if I get that job, but can’t do it?

What if I…

What if…

What…

WHATEVER!!

What have the “What if’s” ever helped you with?

Here’s the thing.

Worry never does anything but put fear in front of hope.

1. Worry is not going to take you to the next success in life.

I’ve seen lots of people see success and lots of people fail, but the ones that continually have success, seem to be ones that don't focus on the negative worries that could happen. They just work at their goals, piece by piece, and don't give up. They just take time to diligently access what needs to be done, and they work hard at it. They don't lag behind others because they choose to try. They choose to take the chance and they exert the effort needed to get something going.

What if thought. Successes don't arrive by worrying. Successes arrive by working.

What worries are holding you back from success?

2. Worry is not going to help you impact that next person.

If you want to impact someone today, or any day, you have to be involved in their lives, not worrying about what will happen if you get involved in their lives. The impact comes from collaboration - the fancy new word for conversation. To impact someone, you have to take some risks and jump into their lives, and fail a bit, or maybe fail a lot! People who focus on impacting others, tend to not worry about themselves and tend to have a more complete and joyful life. The worries may not be gone, but you will see that others may have it worse than you.

What if thought. Impacting doesn't come by worrying. Impacting comes by weaving.

What worries are holding you back from impacting?

3. Worry is not going to help you accomplish what you have to do today.

Worrying may be the biggest time waster we do. It causes us to focus on the things we cannot change, and to skip the things we can. We tend to get off track with the concerns and then have a hard time getting back on track doing the items that will eliminate the worries that are in our heads. You have to decide that you are going to set worry side and get after the things that need to be done. The things you are worried about don't necessarily go away, but you will help yourself by conscientiously deciding to do the things sitting right before you. Once you get those going, you may just find that your worries disappear.

What if thought. Accomplishing doesn't come by worrying. Accomplishing comes by willing.
What worries are holding you back from accomplishing?

Let’s turn those questions around!

• What if I don’t fail? I actually succeed!
• What if I don’t lose? I win!
• What if I don’t get hurt? I’m okay!
• What if I don’t get sick? I feel good!
• What it I can do it? I would be accomplished!
• What if I don’t look foolish? I look smart!
• What if I don’t lose my job? I have a job!
• What if I get that job? I have a new adventure!
• What if I can pay the bills? I can help someone else too!
• What if I get in over my head? So what!
• What if I get called back? I’m moving forward!
• What if I get that job, but can do it? I have a new career!

What are you worried about? Is it worth the worry?

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Craig Stumpf ( Twitter - @CraigStumpf) is focused on leadership help, while impacting others. He understands that failure helps each of us learn and grow. His credo is “Help Others” and his blog, articles and social media accounts focus on creating a better life experience for his readers. Craig is devoted to having the right impact socially, and within business relationships.

His articles, 5 Simple ways leaders fail…, Don't let Mondays crush you and Don't Give Up! were featured on LinkedIn’s Pulse.

He writes regularly on LinkedIn - below are some of his more recent posts:

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