We've all learned the art of releasing regret - to Forget, Let it Be, Learn from It, and finally, Let it Go to truly Live Now. Yet, for many, it's not just regret but worry that shackles us, preventing us from fully embracing our lives, especially in times of uncertainty like ours.

Think about what Abraham Hicks said: "Worry is using your imagination to create something you don't want." Echoing this, the New Testament advises us not to worry about tomorrow, for it will take care of itself. Each day has enough challenges of its own.

Consider this: with an estimated 70,000 thoughts daily, how are you spending yours? Are you investing them in worries over which you have no control? Remember, what you feed with your time and attention grows, while what you neglect diminishes.

Imagine receiving a “5-Paragraph Operations Order” for an upcoming mission, but instead of preparing to ensure the proper execution of the order, we spend a great deal of time discussing the outcome. An experienced commander /leader knows that even a mediocre plan can be effective if properly executed. There is a reason that worry is not mentioned in the military planning process.

There's wisdom in the old saying, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.” 'Worry' is a form of self-delusion that makes us feel proactive about future issues when we're merely thinking, talking, or texting about them without real action.

So, how do we tackle a problem that might not occur in a future that's yet to be? With a powerful tool—planning. Life might be unpredictable, but planning gives us a framework to navigate it.

This Week's Coaching Challenge:

1. Create Your Worry List: List out all your worries. Rank them from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most significant.

2. Ask Yourself: For each worry, ask yourself, "Do I genuinely have control over this?"

   1. If No: Release it. Accept that some things are beyond your control and focus on what you can influence

   2. .If Yes: It's planning time! Develop actionable steps. What can you do today, this week, or this month to address this worry?

      
      

This exercise isn't just about reducing worry but empowering yourself. By focusing on what you can control and planning for it, you shift from passive worrying to active living. You're not just surviving; you're thriving, making each day a step towards a worry-less, empowered future.

This version uses coaching language to encourage personal growth, action, and empowerment, shifting from reflecting on problems to actively solving them.