The worry machine was an ingrained behavior where I constantly thought about the outcome of something I had little to no influence with changing. Reflecting, I realized that the only effect was missing out on the present while worrying about the future, or cycling on the past.
Was this a lack of emotional intelligence or simply poor control over my thoughts?
Certainly, allocating more time to improving both proactively was an outcome. However, I realized that the behavior was a coping mechanism for dealing with the flood of emotions.
Now I spend time reinforcing my awareness that in situations where I am “waiting” for an outcome, I have little to no influence on, emotions will come. I allocate time learning how to acknowledge and validate these emotions so that I can redirect my attention back to the present, as I await the outcome.
Acknowledging and validating that I will have these feelings and that they are totally normal keeps me from kickstarting the worry machine at all. I can refocus my attention, letting the waves of emotions pass through as they come time and time again. Like the waves of the sea washing ashore, they wash over vs push over.