How to Stop Worrying, Relax, and Find Your Joy

Do you often find yourself worrying about the future, trying to control every little detail, or feeling stressed out even during moments that should bring happiness? Y

You'll be pleased to know that it's not just you. Many people struggle with anxiety and a need to feel in control—but the good news is, there are practical steps you can take to let go, relax, and start truly enjoying life.

Understanding the Need to Control Everything

The desire to control everything often comes from fear—fear of failure, rejection, or uncertainty. While wanting to plan ahead is normal, excessive control can lead to stress, overwhelm, and even affect your relationships. Recognising this is the first step toward making a change.

Signs you’re trying to control too much:

• You constantly plan and overthink every scenario.

• You struggle to delegate tasks or trust others.

• Small changes trigger frustration or anxiety.

• You feel tense even in “fun” situations.

By acknowledging and exploring these patterns, you can begin to address the issues that are causing your fear and slowly release your need to control everything so that you can begin to find more calm in your life.

Worrying Doesn’t Help

Worrying often feels productive, but in reality, it rarely solves problems. Instead, it:

• Drains your energy and focus.

• Prevents you from enjoying the present moment.

• Amplifies anxiety and stress.

Letting go of excessive worry is about learning to accept uncertainty and trust that you can handle life’s challenges, even if they don’t go exactly as planned. Tis is called resilience.

How to Stop Worrying, Relax and Reduce Anxiety

Here are some practical ways to help you to stop worrying and ease your need for control:

1. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness teaches you to focus on the present moment rather than obsessing about the past or future.Did you know that it's actually impossible to feel anxious in the present moment? Worrying comes from either fretting over what the future holds or reliving something from the past. Simple exercises like counting the breath, body scans, or mindful walking can reduce tension and calm your mind.

2. Challenge Your Thoughts

When anxiety rears it's head, ask yourself: “Is this thought true? Is it working for me or against me” Reframing negative thoughts can reduce anxiety and shift your perspective from seeing only problems to finding solutions.

3. Set Healthy Boundaries

You don’t need to say “yes” to everything. Learning to prioritise your energy and time can relieve stress and allow you to enjoy life more fully. Having a few key phrases prepared to give you thinking time or create space before having to commit to something is a good place to start.

4. Let Go of Perfectionism

Accept that life is unpredictable. No one is perfect and you may be setting yourself up to fail by not embracing imperfection. Accepting that nothing and no one is perfect, allows you to release control and reduce the constant pressure of trying to get everything “right.”

5. Make Use of Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation exercises like EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), meditation,forest bathing or journaling can help release tension and reset your nervous system.

6. Focus on Joyful Activities

Make time for hobbies, social connection, or the simple things that make you smile. These are not luxuries, they are necessary for your mental health and wellbeing. When you actively look for joy, life feels lighter and more fulfilling.

Creating a Joyful Life, One Step at a Time

Finding joy and peace doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to instil the habits that bring about the change in how you interact with your thoughts and emotions. Work may need to be done at a deeper level but we can all do something, every day to make our lives more joyful.

Start small:

• Take 5 minutes daily for mindful breathing.

• Let go of one thing you can’t control today.

• Book in a joyful activity this week, no matter how small.

• Challenge and change one thought that isn't working for you.

Over time, these small habits build resilience, reduce worry, and help you experience life more fully.

When to Seek Support

If worry, anxiety, or the need to control everything feels overwhelming, seeking professional guidance can make a big difference. Coaching, hypnotherapy, or EFT sessions can provide tools to break free from anxiety and rediscover your joy.

Takeaway: We are all born joyful and hopeful. It is our experiences, social pressure and our conditioning that wear us down and leave us vulnerable to uncertainty and anxiety. By practicing mindfulness, challenging negative thoughts, letting go of perfectionism, and prioritising joy, you can begin to see that you don’t need actually need to control every moment to live a happy life. reduce worry, relax, and embrace a life filled with peace and happiness.

If you would like to know more about how you can Stop Worrying, Relax, and Find Your Joy, please book a free consultation call

Chris.