We all know that worry is a thief of time and energy
When anxiety takes hold, and we start to spiral, it’s easy to waste mental energy agonizing over the past, and indulge in fearful speculation about the future and how we are bound to fail. We can get so bound up in second guessing ourselves and others’ reactions that we become paralysed. Unable to take action.
What if… you could channel that energy more constructively?
But what if you could take all that energy and channel it into something useful – something within your control – instead of letting the worry consume you?
This post is inspired by an idea shared in James Clear’s recent 3-2-1 newsletter: a weekly mailing in which he shares 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider each week. This was one of his ideas:
“Take all the energy you spend on…
- worrying about the past
- worrying about the future
- worrying about what others think
- worrying about if you might fail
… and channel that energy into one useful action within your control.”
~ James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits
There’s a Tarot spread right there
When I read this I thought:
There’s a 5 card Tarot spread that has just written itself, right there.
In tarot, the number five represents challenge, disruption, and conflict – lending itself nicely to a spread that explores the mental loops that keep us stuck. But five alone can feel a little unbalanced, so I have added a sixth card to restore equilibrium, offering a path forward.
In my spread the first 5 cards are the ‘worry’ cards and the 6th is the positive action card.
Card 1: Worry about the past → Release
What is something from your past that you worry about? What lesson can you take from it, and what can you release?
Card 2: Worry about the future → Trust
What fear about the future is taking up space in your mind? How can you trust yourself to handle the unknown?
Card 3: Fear of Judgment → Reframe
What fear of judgment or external validation is holding you back? How much weight should you really give this? Are those perceived judgments projections of your own inner critic? How can you reframe this?
Card 4: Inner Critic → Compassionate Voice
Speaking of your inner critic… What are they saying? Do you recognise that voice? And what is a more compassionate truth that you can embrace?
Card 5: Fear of Failure → Perspective Shift
Where are you holding yourself back due to fear of failure? How can you shift your perspective on this and accept that failure is just an essential part of growth?
Card 6: Reclaim Energy → Take Action
How can you shift your energy from fear to action? What is within your control right now? And what simple, positive action can you take today to move forward and out of that ‘stuck’ place?
Click on images to enlarge
Listening to the Still Small Voice
Worry often drowns out our inner wisdom.
The final card in this spread represents the word from the Still Small Voice within that knows where your energy is best spent. It’s the voice of self-trust, of intuition, of your deepest knowing.
After pulling your sixth card, sit with it. How does it respond to the worries that came before? What invitation does it offer? Instead of trying to control the uncontrollable, what action, however small it may be, can you take today to move the needle away from anxiety?
This is not a called the “just stop worrying” spread
This spread is not about forcing yourself to “just stop worrying.” That rarely works. Instead, it’s about acknowledging your fears, understanding where they come from, and then choosing to channel that energy into something constructive. This can create a powerful change in perspective. Whatever problems you may be facing are unlikely just to evaporate but even a subtle shift in mindset can positively affect the way that you deals with them.
Tarot gives us a mirror, but ultimately, we are the ones who decide where to direct our focus.
Next time you feel stuck in a cycle of overthinking, pull out your deck, lay down these cards, and ask: Where is my energy best spent? The answer might surprise you.
Don’t have a Tarot deck?
You don’t need a Tarot deck to explore these questions. You can simply simply use them as journalling prompts or click here to pick a card for each question.
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