"What If" to "What is" Technique

Here's a cognitive hack you can use when you find yourself overwhelmed with worrisome thoughts. It's called shifting what if to what is. We're all familiar with the 'what if' mind. This is the mind that goes, what if this happens? What if that happens? What if they don't like me? What if it doesn't go well? What if, what if, what if. Sometimes that can help us prepare, plan for the future, take action.

But a lot of times it's just leading to extra neuroticism causing angst in this moment. When that happens, practice shifting your what if to what is. What is here right now? You can even do it in this moment. Notice what you see around you. Notice what you feel in your body.

Notice what you can smell. Notice what you can hear. When you drop into what is here right now, often you'll see that this moment is a little less of a catastrophe than the mind is making it out to be. So practice bringing this into your day when you find yourself caught up in the 'what if' mind. Shift that what if to what is.

Take care.