“I am old and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”
Mark Twain
I was sure I failed the test, and like a bully, worry stalked and tormented me for a week. When the scores finally came in, I learned that I got the highest mark in my class.
Although in third grade, I realized that the agony I created served no purpose. After reflection, I thought another approach to future upsets would be better.
I told myself: Worrying doesn’t feel good. And if what you’re worrying about doesn’t happen, it’s a lot of feeling bad for nothing.
As an adult I learned that when there really is a problem, I’m better off to get clear on the issue and then focus on the solution rather than on what’s not working.
If needed, we can accept that we are worrying, without judging the situation or the fact that we are bothering to worry. By choosing acceptance we are no longer prisoner to our reactive patterns. Freedom greets us as we open our cell door. When this happens the worry-jailer’s job is done.
Consider this:
- Our programming for worry is based on past situations that created unfavorable results.
- We design our future with our present thoughts and feelings.
- Therefore, energizing fearful thoughts with worry is a shortcut to what we don’t want to come into our lives in the future.
“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
Job 3:25
Worry projects us into a world of make-believe what-ifs and creates fear. It’s an indicator that we are living in the future, not in present time.
How do we stay in the present? By surrendering to what is rather than what we think something could or should be. Acknowledging what a situation or person is assists us to be conscious. In doing so, we can see more clearly and take more productive action, too.
If there is a situation that needs addressing, being in the present, rather than in a reactive and emotional state, opens us to receive insights and alternatives more easily.
Humans are wired with the ability to handle life’s situations in this moment of time.
However, we can not cope effectively with mental tapes that project hypothetical, fear-based, future problems.
I was delighted when I read a passage in a great book by Satyam Nadeen.
There’s a part of us that simply watches what’s going on, like seeing a play. I sometimes call it the observer self.
Nadeen refers to this aspect as the Witness. It’s detached about what goes on and doesn’t care about the drama that monkey mind, others or our own, creates about a situation. This drains the life force from worry. In fact, from this vantage point, what we’re worrying about can be rather humorous.
“Each of the countless times a day that the mind or some other person asks ‘why’ about any and every situation that arises (just as a good little mind is supposed to do), the Witness always responds: ‘Don’t know, don’t care!’”
Satyam Nadeen, From Seekers to Finders,
The Myth and Reality about Enlightenment
How can we change a pattern of worry? Decide to let it go. Let worry go. Choose to release the habit. Ask the highest part of ourselves to release the pattern and replace it with awareness to navigate through life in a different way… living in present time with grace and ease.
“Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.”
Gurdjieff
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to look at a situation that’s causing you worry from a perspective of “Don’t Know, Don’t Care.” Consider a viewpoint where letting go of worry supports you to find peace and resolution to whatever is concerning you.
With a zest for Life,
Virginia
Success Thought:
Mark Twain once said that one way of getting a silly tune out of your head is to put in another. Instead of the worry tune, you can use Bobby McFerrin’s melodic approach of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”
“In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now.”
Would you like to know how you can dump worry?
Contact me to learn more at:
virginia@soulgoals.com
I work with people who choose to share
their gifts or business in a BIGGER way
but don’t know how, feel stuck or could
use new tools or support.
I help them ignite their Soul’s goals
and be richly compensated doing what
they love.
Original Soulgoal Missive Email was sent in 2001
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Tags: Bobby McFerrin, don't worry, Gurdjieff, Job, Mark Twain, Quotes, Satyam Nadeen, Worried
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