ARE YOUR FEARS AND WORRIES REAL OR IMAGINARY?

Use this quick "Mechanic's Tool" to find out.

If you start to cross a street and see a car coming what do you do? Your mind identifies the oncoming car and shouts "DANGER," and you get back on the curb to avoid being hit. The "danger" from the car was real and could have resulted in actual injury.

The one thing you won't do is stand in the street with the car coming at you saying to yourself, "Oh, my God there is a car coming. I'm so afraid. What happens if it hits me? My husband won't care. My children probably won't care. I might be killed, I'll be late for work, etc."

Much of our day is spent in just such a time-wasting mental conversations about things that are not dangerous. No wonder we can't get anything done.

When you begin to feel afraid, look around you and ask, "Where's the car? Where's the danger?" If there isn't any real danger you can rest assured your feelings are simply the result of the "soap opera" conversation you are having with yourself. Don't waste your precious energy. If there is real danger, either run for your life or fight like your life depends on it. It may well.