Frequently we hear about people who say their worries snowball, followed by fears of the catastrophic outcomes or unsolvable future problems:

• What if I never get a job, can’t pay back my student loans and get stuck at home forever?
• If no one wants to be my friend, and because I’m undatable, never get married and die alone?

Broad, overarching statements can be scary, especially if it seems as if there’s no solution (How do I get through college if I can’t manage junior high?).  The focus should instead be on what can be addressed now: future worries are not actionable.

• What can I do today towards getting a job, as opposed to worrying about my loans.
• Do I really have no friends?  What does ‘undatable’ actually mean?
• How can I be a better student in junior high rather than worrying about college?

Ultimately, the question focuses on what can I do to make a change today (be it how I think or what I do) instead of what future worries do I fear occurring but can’t address now?