Worry vs. Problem-solving

There are some circumstances that you have no power to change.  Worrying about these types of circumstances is pointless.  On the other hand you shouldn’t give up looking for a solution just because you don’t see an immediate solution.

It is important to be able to differentiate between worry and productive problem-solving. Worry usually has the following characteristics:

• It involves repeating the same thoughts over and over.
• Any "solutions" deal with things that you don’t have the power to change.
• It focuses on changing things that have already happened.

Problem-solving on the other hand has the following characteristics:

• It doesn’t involve thinking about the same thing over and over again.
• It produces different solutions many of which are within your power to execute.
• It feels positive and like you are accomplishing something, even before a solution is reached.