Have you ever noticed how often your worries don’t come true?

Studies show that up to 85% of what we worry about never actually happens. That means most of our mental stress is based on imagined outcomes, not real events.

Worrying is like praying for something you don’t want.

It keeps your nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight, floods your body with stress hormones like cortisol, and weakens your immune response over time. Chronic worry has been linked to poor digestion, sleep problems, heart issues, and even premature aging.

So why do we keep doing it?

Because our brains are wired for survival—not peace—we imagine worst-case scenarios in hopes of preparing ourselves. But instead of making us safer, this constant “what if” cycle often just makes us sicker.

Here are a few ways to break the worry habit:

• Remember the stats. If 85% of worries never happen, remind yourself: this is probably one of those.
• Write it down. Get your worries out of your head and onto paper. This simple act can stop the loop.
• Take action where you can. If something is in your control, do something about it. If not—practice letting go.
• Have faith in something bigger.
• Worry thrives where trust is absent. When you have faith in God, you start to believe that you’re being guided, not punished. That you’re supported, not alone.
• Breathe. Slowing your breath tells your body it’s safe. Practice Rhythmic Breathing (Slowly breathe in through your nose to the count of 4, hold that breath in for the same count, slowly exhale through the mouth for the same count, then hold your breath out for the same count. Repeat.) to change the pattern from survival mode to health mode.

Worry doesn’t prevent tomorrow’s problems—it only steals today’s peace.

So, the next time your thoughts start spiraling, pause. Breathe. Say a prayer. And, remember that most of what you’re afraid of won’t even happen.

Link to Morter March Monday Rebroadcast: