Good morning, passengers! Welcome aboard the “what if” train. This is your Caring Counselor conductor speaking. Our first stop will be the lovely concern, where it all began. Shortly thereafter, we will pull into assumption before spinning by rumination. Before you know it, we will be jumping to conclusions! Enjoy the ride!
This is about how it feels when we go down the road of “what if’s.” Our mind wanders and wonders. We contemplate the possibilities of every outcome. This pulls us away however. It takes us down a trail of unlikelihood.
It is an issue I all too often experience and see. We neglect what is right in front of us. We get caught up in the “go go go” way of life and lose focus on the present.
I use this analogy with clients. Imagine you are at a concert or sporting event. You made sure to get great seats to be able to enjoy the event. When you are finally there and experiencing it, it feels like the rest of the world is on pause. You get sucked into the experience. You savor the moment.
If during this experience, you get caught up in your thoughts.
“Oh no, it looks too crowded down there. What if I get no personal space? Maybe I should just stay up by the bar.”
“Wait a minute. That person looks totally smashed. What if they start acting up or want to fight me? I better stay away.”
“I have work early in the morning. What if I stay too late? Maybe I should just go home.”
Instead of being a part of the experience, you have now let the “what if’s” dictate your experience and pull you away. You are no longer in your seat. Somehow you ended up out in the parking lot. Far away from the action and fun.
Asking “what if” also takes us down any number of infinite possibilities and ones that will likely never happen. This is why it that much more important to stay focused on what we do have rather than what could be.
Remember: “what is” instead of “what if.”
-The Caring Counselor
The Caring Counselor 
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