Sometimes we mistake our thoughts for us, instead of seeing them as clouds floating over the sky of our minds, we become them, we are consumed by them.Like a moving screensaver that pops up when your computer is inactive, thoughts and worries can arise on our internal screens and before we know it, we are watching the screensaver and thinking that that is reality, instead of just a programme running on our machine.
So what can we do about it? Firstly, try to step outside of it, detach from it. If it is inside your head and 'running' you are giving it power and energy by observing it. Separate.
Take a pad and pen and as succintly as you are able, write down what is worrying you. Then assess: Is this real? ie. something concrete happening in my life now.
If it is, then decide - can I do something about it? If you can, then do it, and do it now. Nothing will dispell worry faster than action in dealing with the issue.
"Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow." - Swedish Proverb
If there is nothing you can do about it. Then realise that worry is only sapping your strength and energy and adding to the issue on an energy level. You will be more able to deal with the actualities if you can remove yourself from the 'worry'.
"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." - Leo Buscaglia.
Are you worrying about something that MIGHT happen?
If something actually happens right now in your life, then trust that in that moment you will respond and you will be able to deal with it.
If something is happening in your mind, in your imagination, if you are projecting into a future situation that may, or may not happen, then you are powerless to deal with it and it will cause anxiety and worry, it is destructive.
"Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable." - Theodore N. Vail
Worry doesn't actually help or solve anything. You need to break out of the loop, you need to reassure yourself that all is well. That it is all perfect just the way it is and that if and when anything arises, that you will be able to deal with it
So, break the pattern, do your best to stay in the moment, keep dragging your mind back to NOW, affirm that everything is OK and keep busy, get engrossed in something, run another programme but what ever you do don't sit and watch the 'worry' screensaver.
It is your choice. . .
The day is mine to do as I will, to walk barefoot on damp earth, or to feel the wind whip through my hair, or to stroke a friendly dog, or a purring cat.
I could bake a cake, plant flowers, sit under a tree and read a book, I could fly a kite, see shapes in the clouds, listen to birdsong, hug someone, smile, laugh and chat.
I could lay back and listen to music, plan and dream, or do something useful, I could clean, polish, wash, organise things, put things away, redecorate, paint a picture, write a poem, notice the sounds outside my window.
Or I could worry.
WORRY FRAGMENTS YOU
DON'T DO IT TO YOURSELF
I could bake a cake, plant flowers, sit under a tree and read a book, I could fly a kite, see shapes in the clouds, listen to birdsong, hug someone, smile, laugh and chat.
I could lay back and listen to music, plan and dream, or do something useful, I could clean, polish, wash, organise things, put things away, redecorate, paint a picture, write a poem, notice the sounds outside my window.
Or I could worry.
WORRY FRAGMENTS YOUDON'T DO IT TO YOURSELF
Poem I Could taken from my poetry blog -Out Of My Ocean





4 comments:
Susannah, I'm so happy I was able to read this post! As a classic "Worrygo," I really needed this message. It was so lovely of you to anticipate my needs, LOL! Also, there are some wonderful quotes I'll surely share on Twitter. Thank you for continued inspiration.
Thanks very much for commenting Joyce and I am glad to help. :-)
I loved this post, and I'm sure I will return to it often! I've realized (now that I think of myself as officially "grown up") that I learned a lot of my worrying skills from my family, and I'm actively trying to 'un-learn' them now.
The worry: screensaver analogy was spot-on perfect, and really takes away a lot of the (imaginary) power and urgency worries can seem to have.
Thank you for your thoughts on this topic, and for all the inspiring quotes!
Hi Tamara, I am so glad that the screensaver analogy was something you could identify with. :-)
Thanks very much for your comment.
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