Mark Twain said: “My life has been filled with calamities, some of which actually happened.”
Pre-event anxiety, often experienced before special occasions like weddings or fundraisers, can be prevented by addressing its root causes. This anxiety primarily stems from a lack of preparation, leading individuals to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Research from the University of Cincinnati indicates that 85% of what people worry about never actually occurs, highlighting the often-unwarranted nature of pre-event concerns. By focusing on thorough preparation and minimizing unnecessary worry, individuals can significantly reduce pre-event stress and approach their events with confidence.
Hosting special events like weddings, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, surprise birthday parties, fundraisers has proven Twain correct. The very people that deserve to be in the best frame of mind typically find themselves in the worse. Brides stressed out hours before the wedding, hosts rushing around minutes before the party, and volunteers for fundraisers being pulled in twenty different directions, start feeling overwhelmed.
So how can we prevent pre-event anxiety? The first step is to understand where anxiety comes from. Warranted anxiety comes from lack of preparation. Think back to a test in school that you were not prepared for. Now think about a test you were prepared for. One gave you pre-test confidence while the other pre-test anxiety. The difference was your level of preparedness.
Step two is to understand worry so you can have extra time and energy to prepare for the event. Did you know that researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that 85% of what we worry about never happens? Moreover, the study found that 79% of us handle the 15% that does happen in ways that surprise us in a positive way. We do have the ability to turn the situation around.
That means when 8 out of 10 people worry, 85% of the time, it won’t happen, and the 15% of the time that it does, they will handle it amazingly well.
Conclusion: “Don’t worry, be happy”, make a list far in advance, and “Get-R-Done”! Spend your time getting prepared, doing what you can do, and do not worry about what you can’t.
By Chad Bordelon
