"Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose." - Eckhart Tolle
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?
Well firstly we must 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.
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 you must decide - can I do something about it?
If you can, then you must do it, and do it now.
Nothing will dispell worry faster than taking 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 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 and reassure yourself that all is well and that if and when anything arises, that you will be able to deal with it.
- break the pattern and do your best to stay in the moment.
- Keep dragging your mind back to NOW.
- Affirm that everything is okay.
- Keep busy, get engrossed in something.
But what ever you do -
Don't sit and watch the worry screensaver!
6 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.
Wow Susannah- what refreshing words! Like a breeze this post has washed my mind of unnecessary worries. Great quotes too. Thank you for your openness, honesty, and all the good energy you are putting out into the world through your blogs...you have definitely lightened the load in my mind at this moment. All IS well!
Hi Colleen, I am so glad that you found and read this older post.
I believe it is a really valuable thing to recognise when the worry screensaver is running so that we don't become immobilised by sitting and watching it!
Thank you so much for your kind words, they are very much appreciated. :-)
Yes, all IS well.
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