When I first started at the bank, I had more than a few sleepless nights. I’m naturally restless, but I remember lying awake at 2 or 3 a.m., my mind racing with "what-ifs." It would start with a single thought, “What if I’m not enough?”, and quickly spiral into a flood of worries. Would I fit in? Could I prove myself? Was I going to meet others' expectations, or even my own? What’s the next move?

Sound familiar?

Worry is that relentless anxiety about the unknown, the uncertain and the downright scary. It creeps in when we least expect it and, no matter how hard we try, feels like an inevitable part of being human.

What We Worry About

Most of us worry about the same things:

• Money: Are we making enough? Are we using it wisely?
• Family: Are we raising our kids right? Are they safe? Are they happy?
• Relationships: Are the challenges we face just growing pains, or signs of something deeper?
• Work: Do they see my unique value and contribution, or am I just a cog in a bigger wheel?

Worry finds its way into every corner of life.

I know because I’ve spent my fair share of time in its grip. I worried about making it to college, and then staying in. I worried about my career, whether my lack of the “right” connections and pedigree would hold me back. I’ve worried about being enough, good enough, capable enough, prepared enough.

When I transitioned into banking, worry hit me harder than ever because I was stepping completely out of my comfort zone. Finance, banking, math-based “gobbledygook”, I worried about it all. Would I have enough time to prove the doubters wrong? And those doubters weren’t just external; I had my own inner critic. Would I rise to the challenge?

Why Do We Worry?

Because we’re not all-knowing. We’re not in control. And that makes us uncomfortable.

But when worry starts to consume me, I return to a simple truth:
"Cast all your worries upon Him, because He cares for you." — 1 Peter 5:7

It’s not my job to know what tomorrow holds. That’s God’s job.

Lessons in Letting Go

This perspective didn’t come naturally. It came through experience.

Like the time I interviewed for the CEO role at United Way. I walked into that first interview full of worry, and blew it. At least, that’s how I felt walking out of the room. Worry slows your mental processor down, or at least it does for me. And often, the things we worry about don’t deserve the energy we give them.

To my surprise, after thinking I blew the interview, I was invited back. Before my second interview, a CEO I admired gave me advice that changed my approach, and my life:

• Relax.
• Now is not the time to be humble.
• Go in with a plan, be succinct, and leave it all there.

I prepared, controlled what I could, and let the rest go. And it worked.

That lesson stuck with me. Years later, during my interview for the bank CEO role, I faced a moment that could’ve spiraled into worry. Throughout that process, I could sense that some didn’t think I was up to the task. I fielded questions, some relevant, some not, but one attempt to rattle me stands out. Someone asked,

“Is your objective to hire all Black people for the executive team?”

That question knocked the wind out of me. I wondered, Would anyone else who fit the traditional mold of leadership get asked that question? All of this ran through my mind in a matter of seconds, but instead of letting worry take hold, I remembered: Give it to God.

I responded with something like, “I’m focused on hiring the right people.” I showed up, gave my best, and trusted Him to handle the rest. And He came through, He always does.

6 Ways to Let Go of Worry

1. Focus on What You Can Control

   Write down what’s in your control and what isn’t. Take action on the former and release the latter.

2. Practice Gratitude

   Shift your focus to what’s good in your life. Gratitude reframes your mindset and gives worry less room to grow.

3. Lean on Faith (or Your Anchor)

   For me, faith in God is my anchor. If that’s not your path, lean on a trusted friend, mentor, or mindfulness practice.

4. Pause and Breathe

   Worry thrives in busyness. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Ground yourself in the present.

5. Seek Perspective

   Ask yourself: Will this matter in five days? Five months? Five years? Worry often inflates the importance of a moment.

6. Surround Yourself with the Right Voices

   The right advice at the right time can make all the difference. Seek out people who inspire and challenge you.

A Challenge for You

Worry doesn’t change the future, it only drains the present. If you’ve done your best, trust that what’s meant to happen will happen.

This week, try this:

1. Write down one worry.
2. Take one small action toward resolving it.
3. Let it go.

You don’t have to carry it alone. So, what’s one thing you’re worried about today? And how can you begin to let it go?