Taming the Worry

How to Stop the "Financial Fiction" and Act Your Way to Peace

I am a worrier. I think it’s in my DNA. For a long time, I fought against that fact, but I’ve realized that worry isn't something you "cure"—it’s something you manage. 

When you are in the middle of a financial crisis, worry isn't just a background noise; it’s a roar. But I’ve discovered that you don't have to let it drown you out. If you are currently in a "worry swirl," here is how to find your way back to the surface. 

1. Stop the "Great Fiction Writer" Inside You 

We are all incredible novelists when we’re stressed. We take a "Number Four" problem—like a delinquent account—and we give it a "Number Ten" reaction. 

We start writing scripts where we end up on the streets, living out of our cars, dying alone as paupers. We react to these fantasies as if they are reality, and our bodies respond with genuine panic. 

The Fix: Stop and challenge the truth. Is this thought a fact or a fiction? Is it actually true right now? Questioning the validity of your fear is often enough to stop the swirl in its tracks. Don't make plans based on a make-believe world of catastrophe. 

2. The "Oscar-Winning" Coping Mechanism 

One of the most powerful tools I found during my financial difficulties was the "Act As If" technique. 

Years ago, I taught scrapbooking classes. I loved the craft, but I hated the selling. Every time I had to teach, I was a nervous wreck. To get through it, I developed a practice: I would imagine a curtain going up. I wasn't "me" anymore; I was a character who was brave, knowledgeable, and confident giving people options to buy. 

You can do this with your finances: 

• Walking into a bank? Act the part of a calm, professional negotiator. 

• Facing a landlord? Step into the character of a person who is capable and solution-oriented. 

• Reviewing your mistakes? Pretend you are a consultant helping someone else through their mess. 

It’s not about being deceptive; it’s about using intentional "acting" to access a strength you don't feel you have yet. 

3. Lean Into the "Evidence of Things Not Seen" 

The middle of the journey is the hardest part. You’ve started the work, but you can’t see the finish line yet. This is the definition of faith—holding onto the vision of your life on the other side of this crisis. 

Picture your future in detail. Consciously feel the emotions of being debt-free and stable. If you expect goodness, you create the mental space for goodness to show up. 

4. Find the Blessings in the Broken Pieces 

My friend Leslie went through a financial crisis at the same time I did. She had to sell her beautiful grand piano—a family treasure—to pay off debt. It was heartbreaking to watch it leave her home. 

But even through the tears, Leslie chose gratitude. She was grateful for the years of music her children had enjoyed. She chose to see the sale of assets as "godsends" that provided a way out, rather than losses that took her peace. 

Gratitude is a muscle: 

• Stop concentrating on what you don’t have. 

• List your blessings every single day. 

• Remember: You don’t need expensive things to be happy; you need a support system of loving relationships. 

Your Move 

Worry never made a situation better. Action does. Whether it's taking a walk to clear your head or "acting" your way through a tough phone call, choose to be in active mode. The "Adult Boogeyman" only has power in the dark—turn on the lights, count your blessings, and act your way into the future you want.