The first word on Paul’s meditation list in Philippians 4:8 is true. We waste so much nervous energy trying to make decisions. Rather than becoming overwhelmed and immobilized or hypervigilant and controlling, we can stress less when we remember three things.
Gather the facts. How many planes actually fall out of the sky? How many bridges actually collapse? How many people die from the disease you dread? Examine the record. What are the odds that the thing you are worrying about will ever occur?
Control what you can control. Once you know precisely the challenge that faces you, make a list of what you can do about it. Weather? You can’t control it. (But you can watch the forecast.) The economy? You can’t control it. (But you can keep a budget and live within your means.) Your boss’s opinion of you? You can’t control it. (But you can influence it by doing your work and not worrying about everyone else’s.)
Don’t second-guess yourself. It does no good to do so. Make the best decision you can with the facts at hand, and live with it. Pray and take the next step.