5 Ways to Overcome Anxiety about the Future

Anxiety about the future seems to strike all of us from time to time, but if you can’t put it into perspective and work through it, you may feel like your anxiety is out of control. The truth is that anxiety can get the best of anyone, but there are specific techniques that can help you overcome this common problem. In order to move past your anxiety about the future, consider implementing these five techniques in your daily life.

1) Remember That God Knows

When anxiety starts creeping into your mind, remember that God has you covered. We don’t know what is coming next in our lives, but we do know God is with us and will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). You don’t have to be anxious—God’s got you! He will always provide for you and guide you through every situation. Remember that He loves you so much, He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for your sins so that one day when Christ returns, He can welcome you into heaven forever with Him. As Christians, we are blessed beyond measure. Don’t let anxiety rob you of joy today; instead, choose to trust God and rest in His promises. There’s no need to worry because God knows exactly what you need.

2) Change Your Perspective

So often we get anxious about our future because we focus on what is beyond our control. Don’t allow yourself to be controlled by a fear of uncertainty, which can cause us to limit ourselves unnecessarily. Remind yourself that you have more influence over your life than you may think. And in most cases, there are ways around any problem or challenge that may arise down the road. While it’s good practice not to borrow trouble, it can help give you a feeling of control and reduce anxiety if you take time each day for mindful reflection and visualization exercises. When focusing on your future self, ask questions like: What do I want out of life? How will I achieve my goals? Where do I see myself in five years? Ten years? Twenty years? What would make me happy right now? Visualize your ideal future self and use those images as motivation to keep going. It can also help to put pen to paper when reflecting. Journaling about where you hope to be in 10 years, even though it might seem impossible today, can be very powerful. Knowing that where you are today leads inevitably toward some kind of end goal is comforting—and motivating! Write down what success looks like and how you’ll get there; every few months revisit your notes so they don't lose their power. It's also helpful (though scary) to think through worst-case scenarios and write them down—then plan how you'll deal with them should they come true. You'll likely find that many negative outcomes aren't actually so bad after all, especially when compared with others' real-life stories of hardship and heartbreak.

3) Give Yourself Gratitude Breaks

When we think about our future, it’s natural to worry and get anxious. The trick is to find a way to balance those thoughts out. The next time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, give yourself a gratitude break—focus on what you’re grateful for right now. Write down five things you have in your life that you're thankful for, and why. Alternatively, call or talk with someone who makes you feel good. If you’re having trouble thinking of anything, just ask: What are three things I can be grateful for? Then try to focus on them. You'll be surprised at how much better you feel! Gratitude breaks will help alleviate anxiety because they remind us that while there may be issues to face, there's also so much to be happy about. Focus on being happy today, not only worrying about tomorrow. Remember, tomorrow will come whether you're ready or not; it's up to you whether it brings you happiness or more anxiety. It all starts with one small step toward making each day a little happier. Take a gratitude break when you need it, and watch as your outlook changes.

4) Focus on What You Can Control

One of the best ways to overcome anxiety about what you can’t control is to focus on what you can. Remember that your job, at least for now, is simply taking care of yourself and those around you. When it comes time for decisions that will affect your future, stay in touch with friends and family who can help guide you—and then make a plan for how your life will look after graduation and stick with it. Remember that though it’s hard not knowing where things are going next, if things go wrong or life doesn’t go as planned...it won't be the end of the world. It'll just be a bump in a long road—and hey...what's wrong with road bumps? They make our journey more interesting! ;) God bless my friend. You're doing great! :) xoxo

I hope I could give you some ideas and inspiration for your own writing! Thanks so much for reading!

5) Feel Better About Today

Even though you might not know what tomorrow will bring, life is still pretty good today. Focus on that. There’s a Zen proverb that says, Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it empties today of its strength. Make sure you allow yourself time each day to relax and take care of yourself, whether it’s with exercise or meditation or talking through your concerns with a friend. If you do that consistently, even if you don’t know exactly what tomorrow will bring, chances are good that it will turn out fine—and maybe even better than fine. In other words, by worrying less about what you can’t control, you can actually help make things happen more smoothly in your future. That’s a lot better than having no idea how things will go but being so busy worrying about them that you miss all the little joys along the way.