I feel like I keep having to mention posts I’ve already written, but they just keep being relevant! In August 2017, I wrote a post called “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” (read it here). It talks about how I worry about life.

News flash: I still worry, even three years later. But you know what, it’s okay. I recognize that life is going to work out the way it’s supposed to and that I shouldn’t sweat it.

I try not to spend too much time worrying, but sometimes it creeps up on me. Life gets overwhelming. I feel I mention this all the time, but I’m always looking to improve myself. This includes worrying.

My main key to helping myself calm down and worrying less is to take a deep breath and a step back. That really helps me to put things into perspective. I am able to realize that most of the things I worry about are small and insignificant.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. I started actually teaching yesterday. About fifteen minutes before my first class, I was a little panicky. I had a moment where it kind of hit me that this was real and was actually happening. And the thing was, I wasn’t freaking out about teaching. I was freaking out about starting my class on Microsoft Teams. Like that’s the smallest thing! And that’s what was bothering me!

It’s hardly ever the big things that truly bother me. With my previous example, I knew I would be fine teaching. That’s what I have been trained to do for the past four years. I spent ten weeks last semester in a classroom, and eight of those weeks I was the one making lessons and teaching. My abilities as a teacher are going to either grow, expand, and improve, or I am going to flop out and hate teaching. With teaching, you either have the ability to do it or you don’t.

Also, spoiler alert: my day went fine. Just as I knew it would be. Teaching wasn’t an issue, and any issues I did have aren’t going to be a problem. Yeah, I was a little freaked out at first. It was a new experience in a sense having my own classroom. But my students responded well, and we worked through it. By the time my second class came around, all those nerves were gone.

What I was worrying about was small and insignificant. I shouldn’t have worried about it. And yes, I did worry, but I was able to calm myself down and be okay.

In high school, I gave a lot of speeches competitively. I got to be very good at it. So by the time graduation came around, as salutatorian, I would have to give a speech. My graduation speech was really good and just what I wanted. But you know what? Every time I had to speak in front of people (before I started actively teaching), my hands and knees would shake so bad. I would be so nervous. And every time, my speeches turned out fine. But I was able to take a deep breath and follow through.

Life can cause worries. I won’t deny that. And while sometimes they are legitimate and can cause problems, most of the time they are small things. It’s important to be able to take that deep breath. Don’t let the insignificant things hold you back. Legitimate worries are one thing, but small stuff shouldn’t bother you or stop you. Life is gonna work itself out. So don’t sweat it.