No matter how much you’ve worried in the past or are worrying right now, you can let go of worry. I know you can because I did!

I was once a chronic worrier. I worried about my weight and my appearance. I worried about making mistakes. I worried about my job, about money, and about being alone. I worried about being loveable, being likeable, and being good enough. You name it and I worried about it.

The strange thing is, I believed that my worry was helping me. Looking back now, I can see how it was “helping” me. Worrying about my weight and appearance—on top of continually denying my feelings because I worried too much about what others thought of me—helped me to develop bulimia. Worrying about being alone helped me to stay in unhealthy relationships. Worrying about being loveable, likeable, or good enough helped me to not stand up for myself, express my needs, and do what was best for me. Worrying about money helped me to lie awake at night and feel anxious about paying bills. It helped to keep me showing up every day for a job I didn’t enjoy.

Sure, worrying helped me all right. It helped me to be scared, unhappy, frustrated, and anxious.

Is worry “helping” you the same way?

I know you can let go of worry. I did and you can too!

Here are the top 10 quotes on worrying to help you feel better now. They provide new ways of looking at worry and suggestions on what to do about it.

Also, to learn how to stop worrying today, have a look at my webinar CALM: Transform Worry into Inner Peace.

Here are those “Top 10” quotes:

“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” – Swedish Proverb

“We are stronger than our fears and more competent than our worries.” – Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

“Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” – Erma Bombeck

“Negative assumptions create worry. Get in the habit of challenging your assumptions. Ask yourself: Is it true? Is it fact? Is it helpful?” – Denise Marek, author of CALM

“If you can’t sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It’s the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep.” – Dale Carnegie

“Don’t worry about your entire future—it can only arrive one day at a time.” – David Baird, author of A Thousand Paths to Happiness

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34

“Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fit it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.” – Mary Hemingway

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6

“People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are catching a cold.” – John Jay Chapman