Gigi Langer

Worry Less Now!

 Love More Now!

ENJOY LIFE—UNFETTERED BY THE PAST!

I recently hurt my knee and have been in a lot of pain. My thoughts immediately returned to my many years of limitation and anguish with two frozen shoulders. I was terrified this experience would be the same.

Unfortunately, the mind uses the past to predict the future. If our past was painful, we tend to see pain lurking around every corner.

Such hyper-vigilance causes stress, cardiac problems, gastric difficulties, depression, and a variety of other ailments.

WE CAN REPROGRAM OUR MINDS

The good news is, filling our minds with peaceful, positive thoughts dissolves our old fears. But, these new thoughts must be fed to the mind over and over again.

For example, a daily gratitude list or morning meditation teaches the mind to expect better things. Mantras, affirmations, visualization, the Golden Key (explained here), and consistent prayer do the same.

Finally, choose wisely when sharing your tough times with others.

PICK YOUR CONFIDANTS CAREFULLY

(See this post for more detail.) Avoid those who keep focusing on the upsetting situation, talk only about themselves, or suggest immediate action.

Instead, choose caring, healthy people who guide you to become calm so you can access the strength and wisdom of your “positive power.” (More about that here).

As we use such practices to calm our fears, we realize the past has no control over us, so we don’t need to fear the future. We’ll begin to relax and enjoy life—revel in it, even!

PS: I’M SO GLAD I WROTE THIS to remind myself of the truth. I am not a victim of my past! All is well. My knee will heal in God’s time. And truth be told, I DID need to slow down a little!

Gigi Langer is a former “Queen of Worry” who writes, speaks, and encourages others to overcome their worries, addictions, and negative thinking. Her PhD is from Stanford University.

Get Gigi’s award-winning book, “50 Ways to Worry Less Now” (4.7 stars Amazon). Discounted signed copy at GigiLanger.com/buy

HOW TO REJECT “Worry, Worry, Worry . . .”

worrying dog

This darling commercial features a dog who buried his bone, and then worried so much about its safety, he couldn’t leave it alone. The soundtrack is “Worry, worry, worry” from the Ray LaMontagne song, “Trouble”. Here’s the link.

DO YOU SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THIS POOR, WORRIED LITTLE DOG?

More than 20 percent of us struggle with anxiety. On average, we spend about 300 minutes a day worrying, a condition linked with cardiac, emotional, and other health problems.

Worries tell us, “Watch out!” Sometimes, they rightly signal danger. But, what about those unfounded fears that sap our energy and lead to failure, discouragement, and limitation?

THE PROBLEM: OUR THINKING

I call such worries “whispered lies” because they’re mostly false, telling us the pain of our past will repeat itself. For example, “I can’t do this. I’ll fail!” “I don’t deserve love,” or “I can’t be happy if (fill in the blank) happens.”

So, our thinking is the problem, right? But, wait a minute! Our thinking helps us reach important goals: jobs, degrees, repairs, trips, and so on. We set a goal and, if we just try hard enough, we get everything we want, right?

Unfortunately, this linear approach doesn’t always work: Our hearts are broken, we don’t receive a hoped-for promotion, or a loved one is seriously ill. We’re shocked to realize how little control we have over our own lives–and the lives of our loved ones. But we keep trying, right?

We become like that little white dog: We imagine we can fix our troubles by worrying about them. Or, we try to deny them through partying, working long hours, sexual preoccupation, or drugs and/or alcohol.

But these desperate strategies don’t work. The worrying and negativity just multiply, and we become more miserable than before.

WHATS THE SOLUTION?

We can change our faulty thinking by using four life strategies: 1) get honest, 2) claim positive power, 3) make healthy choices, and 4) consistently use growth tools.

If we get honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our own worries, we begin to see that only something bigger than our fears can overcome them–a source of positive power. We might call it Buddha, Courage, the Divine Spark, God, Great Spirit, Awareness, True Self, Universal Intelligence, or any name that works for us.

Next, we choose a new life (perhaps through affirmations and vision boards) and use growth tools to dissolve our whispered lies (e.g. meditation, prayer, energy work, cognitive reprogramming).

THE RESULT

We become expressions of peace (serenity to accept and wait), clarity (wisdom to know what to do and when) and connection (thriving, loving relationships)–no matter what happens in our lives.

To learn how these four life strategies can ease your own troubles, read my award-winning book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now: Reject Negative Thinking to Find Peace, Clarity, and Connection (Amazon 4.7 stars) available here. (Audiobook due in September)

Worry Less Now

Gigi Langer holds a PhD from Stanford University and is the former “Queen of Worry.” She’s also an educator, a popular speaker, and a person in recovery who hasn’t had a drink or drug for over 33 years.

SNEAK PEEK: THE AUDIO BOOK!

Worry Less Now Cover

Listen to Chapter 5, “Using Growth Practices to Recover Your True Self” right here!

You get to hear it right now, weeks before anyone else, just because you’re a loyal subscriber to my blog and/or newsletter.

I knew it was time to publish an audio book when people started asking how they could find it on Audible. It took a while to find the right time and the perfect narrator, but we did, and it’s only a few weeks away from being released!

I chose Chapter 5 for you because it’s the most honest — and it was the hardest one to write! It describes how I used honesty, power, choices, and 13 tools to heal the layers of pain that drove my self-destructive behavior. I hope you find something here of use to you or your loved ones.

Just click the red arrow below to listen to the 45-minute chapter. PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK about what you like or find problematic. That would be a HUGE help. Thanks! Happy listening!

https://soundcloud.com/user-431811402/audio-worry-less-now-ch-5/s-s9zFC
Gigi Langer Worry Less Now

Gigi Langer has been clean and sober for 33 years, and holds a PhD in Psychological Studies in Education from Stanford University. She’s a sought-after speaker and retreat leader who has helped thousands improve their lives at work and at home. 

Order a PERSONALIZED SIGNED COPY of award-winning 50 Ways to Worry Less Now HERE. Also available from from Barnes and Noble , Amazon (5 stars), and all e-book vendors. 

Why Are Frogs So Happy? They Eat What Bugs Them!

worry less now gigi langerWhat bugs you? Is it something or someone you can’t change, but wish you could? Yup, the fly in the ointment! It happens to me all the time.

Try Kermit’s approach: just chew it up and swallow it. It’s merely acceptance–digesting the reality of the situation and getting on with your life.

I needed to remember this lesson recently when my book distributor went out of business. Upon reading the notice, I just wanted to spit out the unpleasant news. It just couldn’t be true!

Then I began to roll it around in my mouth, as I tried to figure out how to fix it. Eventually that effort failed, and I had to just gulp it down, exactly as it is.

Now that I’ve absorbed this truth, I can look at it differently. For example, I realized that the defunct printing company had been charging me a lot! And that led me to finding new and creative ways to distribute my book.

For example, soon you’ll see a special offer of a personalized SIGNED COPY (available now at GigiLanger.com/buy mailed right to your home. Although people can still get it from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, this special deal allows me to connect with you more directly.

So, when life throws you a curve ball–something that really bugs you–just gobble it up and keep moving, knowing that a better way is coming along.

It works for me and for Kermit too!

worry less nowGigi Langer has been clean and sober for 33 years, and holds a PhD in Psychological Studies in Education from Stanford University. She’s a sought-after speaker and retreat leader who has helped thousands improve their lives at work and at home. Read her blog here or order her award-winning book (50 Ways to Worry Less Now) from GigiLanger.com/buy, Barnes and Noble, Amazon (5 stars), and all e-book vendors.