Both personally and professionally, I have observed that people like to worry. When life is challenging, they are concerned, and when things are going well, many people worry about when it will take a turn for the worse. This applies not just to investments and investing but to life in general.

In today’s fast-paced, highly connected world, worry has become almost second nature for many people. Whether it’s concerns about job security, financial stability, relationships or even global events, it’s easy to get caught in the cycle of overthinking. Worrying often feels productive, as if by fretting over a problem, we are actively addressing it. But in truth, excessive worry rarely resolves anything. Worse, it can blind us to the good things happening in our lives right now.

“Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.” Mark Twain

The Paradox of Worry

Worry is a survival mechanism deeply embedded in human evolution. Our ancestors who worried about threats were more likely to survive because they took action to avoid danger. However, in the modern world, where many of our “threats” are not life- threatening, this mechanism often works against us. Instead of being an occasional response to real dangers, worry becomes a constant background noise in our lives.

The irony is that while we worry about what might go wrong in the future, we often miss the things that are going right in the present. This tendency to focus on potential problems robs us of the ability to appreciate the positives around us — whether it’s spending time with loved ones, experiencing career success or simply enjoying a peaceful moment. In worrying about hypothetical scenarios, we sacrifice the joy of what is real.

Worry is often focused on the short term, which is something the media reinforce as they inundate us with negative news. As a result, we may miss longer-term positive trends in portfolios, relationships and career — causing us to lose the forest from the trees.

Worry commonly results in anxiety, which has become a huge issue in our society. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting more than 40 million adults, or 19.1 percent of the population. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in this country, with 6.8 million adults affected. Women are more than twice as likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder. And, although anxiety disorders are often very treatable, more than 60 percent of people do not seek treatment for them.

How Worry Distracts Us from Life’s Goodness

Here are four ways in which worry robs us of the joy we could be experiencing right now.

Worry creates tunnel vision. When we are consumed with worry, our attention narrows. We focus exclusively on what could go wrong, losing sight of the broader picture. This tunnel vision blinds us to opportunities, personal achievements and moments of As a result, we fail to savor the good things happening in our lives.
It keeps us from focusing on the present. Worry is future-oriented. It drags our thoughts into the realm of “What if” and worst-case scenarios, diverting attention from the Yet the present is the only moment we truly have any control over.

Missing out on the now means missing out on the chance to appreciate life’s beauty as it unfolds.

Worrying may also prevent us from taking the steps needed today to protect our future. For example, sitting on cash and not investing because we are worried about what will happen to the stock market can cause us to miss out on potential growth.

It can sabotage relationships. Worry, particularly when left unchecked, can create unnecessary tension in our relationships. It may lead us to misinterpret others’ actions or words, amplifying minor concerns into significant issues. We might worry about things like being misunderstood, feeling unappreciated or wondering about the future of a relationship, which can prevent us from enjoying the time spent with the people we care about.
Worry can lead to burnout and health Everyone worries a little from time to time, but chronic worry taxes our mental and emotional energy. As mentioned, it can lead to stress and anxiety and eventually burnout and other health issues.

According to WebMD, the nervous system in our bodies is a messaging network that’s made up of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and special cells called neurons. Worrying too much can trigger the brain to release “stress hormones” that speed up the heart rate and breathing, raise your blood sugar and send more blood to your arms and legs. Over time, chronic worry can take a toll on your health, affecting your heart, blood vessels, muscles and other systems.

When we’re constantly preoccupied with what could go wrong, we lose the energy and motivation to pursue the things that bring us joy and fulfillment. In the long run, this diminishes our overall well-being.

Shifting Focus: From Worry to Gratitude

Breaking the cycle of worry is challenging but necessary. One effective strategy is to cultivate a practice of gratitude. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack or fear to what we already have. It reminds us that while uncertainties will always exist, there is much in our lives worth appreciating right now.

Here are four practical ways to counteract worry with gratitude:

1. Keep a gratitude journal

Take a few minutes each day to write down three things you’re grateful for. These can be simple things — a warm cup of coffee in the morning, a kind word from a colleague or the beauty of a sunset. Regularly acknowledging the positive aspects of your life can help rewire your brain to focus more on the good and less on the negative. This is a great way to start every day.

2. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is the art of being present. When you find yourself spiraling into worry, take a moment to ground yourself in the present. Engage your senses: notice what you can see, hear, smell, taste and feel. This simple practice can help pull your mind away from future worries and bring it back to the present moment.

3. Challenge negative thoughts

When worries arise, ask yourself whether they are based on facts or assumptions. Often, our worries are rooted in worst-case scenarios that are unlikely to happen. Challenge these thoughts by considering more balanced perspectives. What’s the best- case scenario? What’s most likely to happen? By reframing your worries, you may find they lose some of their power.

4. Celebrate even the small wins

Instead of waiting for major milestones to feel accomplished or happy, learn to celebrate small wins. Each day brings its own victories — whether it’s finishing a task, having a productive conversation or simply making it through a tough day. Acknowledging these moments creates a sense of progress and fulfillment, helping to counterbalance any worries.

Investing and Worry

Investing requires taking a long-term view and separating real risk from hypothetical scenarios. Moreover, there are often ways to mitigate risk.

One of the biggest risks many investors face is inflation — the fact that they will need more money in the future as the cost of living goes up. The only way to keep pace with, or get ahead of, inflation is to invest, which may involve some volatility and risk. If people do not invest properly, they may run out of money, see their lifestyle severely diminished and be unable to leave a legacy for heirs.

A 2024 survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute® revealed that some investors are taking potentially adverse actions as a result of worrying about the economy, and many are doing so without professional guidance. Almost 8 in 10 (78 percent) respondents rated the U.S. economy overall as poor or fair. When asked the reasons for their negative rating of the economy, respondents overwhelmingly cited inflation (80 percent), wages not keeping up with the cost of living (51 percent) and high housing costs (50 percent).

Consumers who said they were feeling budgetary strain reported changing their behavior in ways that could potentially have long-term adverse effects. These behaviors include reducing their retirement plan contributions and withdrawing money from retirement savings to cover housing costs — a move that depletes savings and can result in significant tax implications.

Working with a team of experienced financial advisors can help people avoid such costly mistakes and replace worry with confidence about the future. However, unfortunately, nearly three-fourths of the respondents in the Nationwide Retirement Institute survey (74 percent) said they do not use a financial advisor for help with personal finances.

It can be costly to attempt to plan your future alone. From our experience, we believe the cost of working with a financial professional typically pays for itself in the form of potentially better long-term outcomes — and enhanced quality of life.

For example, one strategy we can use to help you balance your current and future financial needs is to have sufficient cash on hand for near-term needs, as well as investments. The cash you don’t have invested can provide you with stability for your current needs, while your investments can help you outpace inflation and come out ahead in the long run.

When you work with our team, we will develop a plan that meets your current needs, your long-term vision and your risk tolerance. The customized lifetime plan we build for you is designed to enable you to live well today and also in the future.

Choose to See the Good

Worry may be a natural part of life, but we don’t have to let it dominate our thoughts. By cultivating awareness, practicing gratitude and focusing on the present, we can shift our perspective and begin to appreciate the good things we often overlook.

Life is full of beauty, joy, and opportunities — if only we allow ourselves to see them. Our team is here to help you on your journey; however, ultimately it is up to you to choose the path you take and to be grateful versus worried.

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” Leo Buscaglia

Randy Carver, CRPC®, CDFA®, is the president and founder of Carver Financial Services, Inc., and is also a registered principal with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Carver Financial Services, Inc., was established in 1990 with the vision of making people’s lives better — clients, team and community. With this mission, Carver Financial Services has grown to be one of the largest independent financial services offices in the country, holding $2.9 billion in assets for clients globally, as of August 31, 2024. Randy and his team provide Personal Vision Planning^® for their clients.

You can reach Randy directly at randy.carver@raymondjames.com and in the office at (440) 974-0808.

Any opinions are those of Randy Carver and not necessarily those of Raymond James. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

This information is not a statement of all available necessary data for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. All options are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including asset allocation and diversification. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.