Fear vs. Worry

This week I finish my Masters in Business. This is a big jump for me. I feel like I have accomplished a huge feat! The majority of my adult life has been spent in school.

Whilst discussing this milestone in my life with a friend, I mentioned that I have a fear of what will happen next. He called me a "worrier" and gave me the platitudes that most good friends are required to give when discussing such things.

During this conversation, I couldn't get him to understand that my "fear" did not equate to "worry" and that they were two very different things....

According to (The All Knowing) Wikipedia: Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger.

I equate my FEAR of life-after-school with a general uneasiness of what the future will bring.  But isn't that true of everyone's life?  We are always looking forward wondering what will happen.  We can plan for things, we can have good intentions....but regardless of how prepared we are....the future is a'comin'!  I have no clue what this change in my resume' will bring.  I have no real life experience to base a decision on.

Merriam-Webster says that Worry is (amongst other things) to feel or experience concern or anxiety: in other words to fret.  Now we all fret from time to time, but generally it is because of things we have experienced.  I might worry about my nephew breaking his arm if he climbs that wall. Why?  Because I've done it.  I might worry about a  friend about to make a HUGE mistake.  Why?  Because it has happened to me.

I guess my point is that I have nothing to "worry" about.  I have no experience in life with an MBA.  What I do have is fear of the unknown...will I get a job?  Can I use my degree to better my life and the lives of those around me?

As long as I keep in mind that fear is the only thing standing in my way, I'll be OK.  Worrying about it has no basis in my reality.....but "my reality" is another post entirely.

I know some of you will argue that this is semantics, but understanding how you work within yourself helps you to navigate the world a little more deftly.

Understand your fears.  Realize they are different than worry.  Fear you can work though.....so don't worry about it!