What happens when you “What if?”

It was 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, and I was walking out of the
movie theater with a giant knot in the pit of my stomach.  I had just
seen the movie “2012″.

After going in with much anticipation and knowing that I would need
to keep a strong mind to be able to stay positive in the midst of so
much chaos and negativity, I was astonished to find that in my own
mind, I had created a massive dose of anxiety and fear in my mind and
body.   How could that be?  After all, aren’t I some kind of new
thought guru that understands how thoughts can create emotion?  Don’t I
have control of my own thoughts?

Apparently not.

The “what if” monster got me good.   I found myself sitting in the theater, watching the Earth destruct in 2012 and thinking:

• What if it’s true?
• What if there is scientific data and I have been ignoring it?
• What if everything I’m doing is for nothing?
• What if the belief I have about 2012 being a spiritual new world is wrong?
• What if I don’t see my family before then?

And the biggest (and honestly most selfish) thought of all:

What if I’m not one of the survivors?

I needed to come back to the present moment and I needed to do it
now.  But I couldn’t.  I decided to check it out a little more on the
internet, just to calm my nerves.  Conspiracy theorists, propaganda,
predictions galore.  (What was I expecting?)  My nerves got worse as I
surfed.  I really wanted to stop, but I almost couldn’t.  It was kind
of like picking a scab and expecting a cut to heal.  Finally, the
anxiety got to a point where I couldn’t ignore it.

And I did this to MYSELF!

“Get away from the Internet”, my own voice told me.  “There is only this moment.  The future hasn’t happened.”

“Yes, I know,” I said to myself “but what if…”

“STOP IT!”

Leaning back in my chair, I felt powerful just clicking the little X
to close the window on my browser.  Predictions be gone.  Whatever is
going to happen is going to happen (or not happen) and that’s just the
way it is.   Have you ever felt anxiety over a situation and obsessed
about the negative outcome?  Of course you have.  But when you come
back into the present moment, set up a step by step plan and get into
action, there is no “what if”.  There is only NOW.

What do you need stop worrying about and get into the present about
right now?  Leave me a comment and let’s stay present together.

All is ok.

Stephanie Frank
Founder and President of SuccessIQ University
Best Selling Author, The Accidental Millionaire

Book Stephanie to Speak or read what she has to say about achieving goals, leadership, peak performance, personal empowerment, persuasion and influence, productivity, creating systems, and time mastery on her blog web site: http://www.stephaniefrank.com

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