In a scenario where two people on their way to work become stuck in traffic, one individual thought himself into being worried while the other thought himself into remaining calm. One individual thought ahead to all of the possible consequences of being late — all of which were negative — even though none of them had yet occurred and might not ever occur. This individual was thinking negative thoughts about a future anticipated situation or event. This individual was projecting.
Worry and projecting — you can’t have one without the other. Projecting means you think ahead to all of the possible consequences of being late — all of which were negative in the first example — even though none of them has yet occurred and might not ever occur. Haven’t most of us been taught to ‘think ahead’? Haven’t most of us been taught to project into the future, to look ahead, to be prepared for anything — usually anything bad?
Of course, it is okay to have a plan in case it’s needed, but with or without a plan ready, there is no value in thinking negative thoughts that lead to feeling worried about the outcome of some future anticipated event. Worry won’t affect the outcome. It will turn out the way it turns out. This is not to say that there is nothing you can do to affect an outcome, but only to say that whatever planning or preparation you might do, worry is not going to help. Worry paralyzes. Worriers become immobilized and are less likely to take the action that could fix the issue.
