A habit of always fearing what might go wrong or fretting about what could happen in the future is both exhausting and joy-stealing. Thankfully, there are ways to break the cycle of concern and find more space for enjoyment in the here and now

Do you often find that looking forward to an upcoming event becomes overshadowed by fears of impending disaster? Is the lead-up to a night out with friends fraught with fears of saying the wrong thing, forecasts of wardrobe malfunctions or ruminations of a tragedy that wouldn’t look out of place in a soap opera? Does joy at a successful job application swiftly lead to a session of self-doubt and character assassination, or a new relationship prompt concerns of a devastating break-up? And surely that racing heartbeat means an impending heart attack?

Rest assured that if you’re plagued by worries, you’re certainly not alone. And it’s not unusual to find it difficult to let go of them. Even when times are good, it’s possible to be so fixated on what could go wrong that it’s hard to enjoy any time in the sun. There can be the belief that it makes it easier to prepare for potential problems or that it assures safety and helps with being organised and doing the right thing. At the same time, however, it can cause concern that it’s negatively affecting mental and physical wellbeing.