The Buddhist proverb on worrying:
"If you have a problem that can be fixed, then there is no use in worrying. If you have a problem that cannot be fixed, then there is no use in worrying."
Worry, worry, worry. So many of us engage in this unhelpful behavior. Intellectually, we know worrying doesn't solve anything. It doesn't work; it just eats up our time, and yet we do it anyway.
It's a habitual cycle of unhealthy fantasizing. We think about the worst-case scenario, experience it in our minds and then create unnecessary stress to our lives.
We usually worry about events that are in the past or future and often go back and forth between what has happened to what may happen.
What we need to understand is this: worrying about the future or preoccupying ourselves about past events robs us of trust, security, and emotional well-being.
Let's not forget, that a lot of what we spend time worrying about, doesn't actually happen. I repeat, most of our worries never come true. And even when trouble finds us, it is rarely as bad as we have made it out to be in our imagination. The fear is often worse in our mind than in reality.
We've all had negative experiences, some of which may have left emotional scars, and contribute to our catastrophic thinking, but to put ourselves through mental anguish about things before they happen is torture and frankly, a form of self-punishment.
Don't punish yourself with worry.
Constant worry is a behavior that uses up our precious time, keeps us living in our thoughts, and takes us away from our lives. Remember, we are all just visitors here; making the best use of our time is of essence.
One last thing about fear-based thinking worth mentioning is that it stops us from problem solving. Chronic worry doesn't allow us to see what we can do.
There is, however, an alternative to worry: learning to trust more.
Trust yourself to deal with things as they come up in your life. No matter what the situation, circumstance, or trouble, trust you will get what you need, to help you through the tough times.
It's a choice one has to make: believe and trust in yourself to manage the ups and downs of life or cling to fear, doubt, and anxiety to keep you stuck in the pattern of worry.
No better time than now; stop worrying away your time.
Learn to be more comfortable in the present; give the past a break and the future will come at its time. If we focus on living one day at a time, our fears and worries will lessen. I invite you to give this a try.
Thank you for reading!
