If You're Not Sure, Ask for Help | Photo Courtesy of Gabriel Doyle | stock.xchng

We all have problems. Some of those problems are more stressful than others but there’s one thing I know for sure… they can all be classified into one of the following…

1. They’re something I can do something about.
2. They’re something I can’t do anything about.

I was recently browsing around and came across a statement that I would like to share here…

If you have a problem you can’t do anything about, stop worrying about it and focus instead those things you can do something about.  If you have a problem you can do something about, stop worrying about it and do something about it.

This suggests that, either way, my problems are something that I should stop worrying about.  This got me thinking about those times I would sit around moping about issues I am facing.  Whether an unexpected financial hardship or a marital problem or just a car that is broken down, I, like so many of you, have had my fair share of problems.  Surely, choosing not to concern myself with these problems is irresponsible, right?

Absolutely… it would be irresponsible to ignore those problems I can do something about.  Those that are out of my control, however, are exactly that… out of my control.  Why should I focus attention on that which is out of my control when there are other important things that deserve my attention… my presence!

So, I am going to ask you to do something that is part of an exercise that I once participated in.  Take a moment to think about the issues you are facing in your life.  Perhaps you are finding it difficult to break a bad habit or maybe you’re worried about a big presentation you have coming up.  How would you classify these issues… are they something you have no control over and can’t do anything about?  Are they issues that you can do something about?

It occurred to me, as I was going through the exercise, that there may be some issues we don’t know how to handle.  What do we do if we don’t know how to classify a certain issue?

This is where I always turn to my family, friends and colleagues… I talk about it!  I ask for help.  I get the weight of this burden off my shoulders.  If there is something burdening my thoughts, something I am anxious or worried over, I share it with a trusted friend or family member.  I share it with a colleague.  Sometimes, just sharing it with someone allows me to organize my thoughts enough to inspire me to action.  Other times, it becomes evident that there’s really little I, or anyone, can do about it.  Still other times, the conversation steers my attention to another way of approaching the issue.  Regardless, I am now in a position to do something about it.

So, what has your attention today?  Are you allowing concern over things you have little control over introduce anxieties into your life or are you focused on the things that are within your control to do something about?  Most importantly, if you’re not sure, are you prepared to give yourself a break and ask for help?