getting older, there is simply no point—it’s happening whether
you worry or not.
If there is nothing you can do about your worry (or if you are
a persistent worrier, even bordering on the neurotic), then
distraction is the only answer. Get absorbed in something
else. A man with the rather impressive name of Mikhail
Csikszentmihalyi identified something called “flow,” where
you are so absorbed in a task you are doing, so fully im-
mersed, that you become almost unaware of external events.
It’s a pleasurable experience, and it completely banishes worry.
He also said, “The quality of our lives improves immensely
when there is at least one other person who is willing to listen
to our troubles.”
Worrying may be a symptom that you don’t really want to do
something about the problem. It might be easier just to carry
on worrying—or looking concerned and appearing to worry—
rather than doing something about it. It is OK to worry
properly, profitably, usefully. It is not OK to worry pointlessly
or needlessly. Or at least, it is OK, but it’s a colossal waste
of life.
...ALL YOU’RE DOING IS
PUTTING WRINKLES IN
YOUR BROW—AND THAT
MAKES YOU LOOK OLDER,
YOU KNOW.