All of us worry from time to time because we can never be sure what the future holds. Worry serves a useful function when it helps us plan ahead. For example, anxiety about meeting a deadline at work might lead you to start devoting an hour a day to the project.

But worry often is unproductive. People can fret endlessly about worstcase scenarios that have little chance of happening. There is no shortage of things you could potentially worry about: coming down with a lifethreatening illness, getting involved in a car accident, or having your home destroyed by fire.

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