#Anxiety March 23

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I am reading a book and one topic that opened my eyes was ANXIETY.

The book I am currently reading is called The Confidence Course and it is written by Walter Anderson.

Anderson is the long time editor and now CEO of Parade Magazine. Parade is that colorful insert that was part of many Sunday newspapers in America. He is a former Marine and has written several books.

In Chapter 3 of the book he makes a very powerful point about the difference between fear and ANXIETY.

Here is an excerpt form the book:

At the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the 1950s, a laboratory experiment that is a classic in behavioral research, was conducted using eight rhesus monkeys. The eight were divided into pairs. Each pair received periodic electric shocks, but one monkey in each pair was able when a light flashed on to prevent itself from being shocked by pressing a lever. The other monkey in each pair could not prevent itself from being shocked. The shocks continued regularly over some weeks. Four of the eight monkeys developed terrible stomach lesions and ulcers, and they died. The others showed no similar symptoms. Which monkeys got sick? The answer may surprise you. It was the four monkeys who were able to prevent electric shocks to themselves who got the ulcers and died.

I don’t think there is much doubt the constant ANXIETY and worry contributed to the monkeys demise. If that occurs for them imagine what it does to us.

Anderson doesn’t just point out the harm that ANXIETY can do to all of us, he offers up some practical advice. He tells his readers we probably will not eliminate worry from our lives but we can learn to as he says “Worry Better”. He has two rules to help us in that area.

1. Understand what you fear
2. Take Action

If you want to read more about what he says here is a link to Chapter 3 of The Confidence Game

Most leaders I know worry. ANXIETY is big energy drain and all of us need to learn to redirect that negative power to something productive. We all need to practice how to “Worry Better”.