#134 How to Stop Worrying About The Future

When you worry about the future without control, it will induce anxiety and stop you from progressing in life. This is how you can overcome it.

When we worry about the future it can often trap us in a cycle of feeling anxious or depressed.

What You’ll Learn in this Podcast:

1. How to Make Powerful Decisions about Your Future
2. Leading Your Mind
3. Gratitude and Allah’s Plan for You

We expect the worst outcome and we catastrophise to the point of fear which paralyses us. 

This is a common struggle that appears especially when we’re facing a major life change like a career move, marriage or moving homes. 

This brings about the question, How do you change this and get control? 

Being stuck in this makes us feel out of control about our lives. And it blocks us from achieving the outcomes that we want and can achieve. 

It prevents us from taking advantage of opportunities and achieving our goals. 

An example could be that you are up for a significant career opportunity and your initial response is excitement and you feel like you’re ready for the challenge. 

Then you start thinking about it more but you catastrophise and worry about all the things that could go wrong.

Then your mind starts ringing with thoughts of, “What if I fail? What if it doesn’t work out? What if people see me as a failure?”

These thoughts are what lead to anxiety and then a paralysing fear. 

The good news is there are ways to resolve this.

To change this, we use the Science of the Nafs psychology model to break down what’s happening inside of us. 

Allah (swt) makes everything simple for us. So this is really simple. 

One of the key tools for changing this is emotional leadership which means that you have to lead your mind. 

Shifting your focus from these negative catastrophising thoughts and anxiety to the potential for positive change can naturally dissipate feelings of worry.

Instead of letting this anxiety take over, try to focus on the excitement and potential that comes with these changes.

Allah (swt) says in Surah Al Kahf,

فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ‎

“So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.”

Whoever hopes for. This is a hope driven by belief.

This is the first key to breaking free from this impending doom, all the catastrophising, the anxiety that comes from it, and the depressive episodes that come from it.

You have to have hope in the future.

Make a decision that your future is going to be amazing.

Make intentional decisions about your future, envisioning an amazing outcome and believing in it wholeheartedly.

The next thing you can do is Believe that Allah has good in store for you.

Focus on what you are grateful for in the present moment. This can help you to see your future with hope. 

Take time each day to reflect on the things you are thankful for, no matter how small.

The Quranic Science of the Nafs is the tool to give you the life that you want. 

By focusing on the positive and being hopeful about the future change by controlling our minds, and applying the Science of the Nafs, we can lead ourselves towards a flourishing life. 

Remember, Allah (swt) has good in store for you. Believe in it, make the decisions, and take action to embrace it.