3. Take Action If what you’re worrying about is something that is happening today, then reframe your worry thoughts into planning thoughts. Instead of worried thinking like "I hope my pasta primavera will taste good tonight," reframe that into a planning thought: "Is there anything I can do to improve my pasta primavera?" If answer is yes, do it. If you have already done everything there is to do, then there is nothing to worry about.

4. Plan When you find yourself worrying about ongoing issues like a recurring health challenge, financial difficulty or difficult relationship, make a pact with yourself to stop worrying and engage in some planning time. By asking yourself powerful questions instead of staying stuck in worrying rut, you can improve your situation. Then, of course, follow up your planning with consistent action.

5. Ask Powerful Questions The powerful questions you might ask yourself are "What would it take for me to stop worrying about this?"; "Is there a different choice I can make that will provide me with more well-being?"; or "Is there something I can say or do right now so I can stop worrying about this?"

6. Trust Yourself Life will go way it goes. There is much we cannot control. We cannot control weather, other people or even if parking will be available when we get to our destination. Recognize that you can only control yourself and choices you make. Remind yourself that you are capable and competent and that you only have power to affect your life to extent it is possible to do so. If you cannot control a situation, it does you no good to worry about it, so simply let it go.

"Let it go" is a good overall motto to implement regarding worry. When you notice you are worrying about things outside of your control, let go of these thoughts and think about something you can impact. Begin to say to yourself, "Don't worry about it." Make that your mantra, and watch your worry disintegrate. You’ll then discover more positive and powerful thoughts filling your mind.

I have discovered that whenever I do not set good limits against being treated badly - such as disengaging from interaction and stating that I don't want to talk when there is anger or blame - or I respond with anger or blame to another's anger or blame, I feel awful. It is so easy to think I feel awful because of how I have been treated by other person rather than because of how I am treating myself and others. When my Adult is present and I respond to another's anger, blame or other violating behavior by either moving into an intent to learn and/or setting an appropriate limit without anger, shaming or blaming, I feel terrific. In fact, I feel on top of world. It has been deeply gratifying to me to know that my feelings are always my responsibility because then I can do something about feeling badly -- I can practice responding lovingly no matter what.

On one of my morning walks while dialoguing with my spiritual Guidance, she told me that one of my soul's lessons is to learn to respond lovingly no matter what -- no conditions under which it is okay to respond unlovingly. I find this very challenging. As soon as I get it right in one situation, my Guidance arranges for me to be challenged by new situations. This appears to be way our souls grow when we have opted for spiritual growth. However, we are never given more than we can handle, and each time I manage to respond lovingly in a new situation, my Inner Child feels more and more loved, safe, and valued.

It is so easy to revert to our wounded self and claim that this time my feelings are not my responsibility. This time it really is other person's fault. This time they have gone too far and no one could expect me to feel okay in this situation. But each time I manage to keep my Adult present and take good care of my Inner Child, lesson hits home anew -- all my feelings really are my responsibility.