--Isak Dinesen
Are you a worrier? We all are to a certain extent, but some of us are more pessimistic than others, and when we worry, it's always the worst possible thing that comes first to mind. Worrying is a great thief of time. I have a good friend who can soar from distress to disaster in five seconds, and it has caused her no end of sorrow. Now that she recognizes the pattern and can stop herself in midflight with a gentle reminder, she experiences much more inner harmony even under difficult circumstances. Often when we stew, we think that we're doing something positive about the problem; at least we're thinking about it. Instead, we've set off in an escalating spiral that can ruin an entire day - for ourselves and those in our vicinity.
If you find yourself fretting over an issue, instead of working yourself into a frenzy, stop. Now think about everything that's humming along nicely. Can you have a conversation with Spirit? If you don't feel comfortable calling your communion with a Higher Power "prayer," call it a "communication with a good friend." "I learned that simply to ask a blessing upon one's circumstances, whatever they are, is somehow to improve them, and to tap some mysterious source of energy and joy," writer Marjorie Holmes confides. "I came upon one of the most ancient and universal truths - that to affirm and to claim God's help even before it is given, is to receive it." There is an abundance of amazing grace available to all of us if we simply learn to ask for it. "Desire, Ask, Believe, Receive," the mystic Stella Terrill Mann advises. Begin praying or conversing in that order and you'll understand why she does.
After praying about your worries, is there a friend you can share your problem with? If not, sit down quietly and write out what's troubling you. Now write out the worst case scenario. What are your greatest fears? If that happened, what would you do? How would you cope? Once you have a solution beyond an "I don't know" response, write it down. One of the reasons we worry is because we feel powerless to control our futures. When we figure out what we'd do if the worst did happen, the sense of hopelessness diminishes. "I have spent most of my life worrying about things that have never happened," Mark Twain admitted at the end of his life. We all do this.
Worrying about the future robs you of the present moment. Try to observe how much worrying you do. And if the nagging worry follows you relentlessly throughout the day, follow Scarlett O'Hara's example. Tell yourself, "I'm not going to think about this right now, I'll think about this tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day."
-Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance - A Daybook of Comfort and Joy©1995
We worry because we choose to. Not because we have to. We choose to. We choose to worry because we believe that life comes with no guarantees. But, what if...
What if we knew for certain that everything we're worried about today will work out fine? What if we had a guarantee that the problem bothering us would be worked out in the most perfect way and at the best possible time? What if we knew that three years from now we'd be grateful for that problem, and its solution? What if we knew that even our worst fear would work out for the best?
What if we had a guarantee that everything that's happening, and has happened, in our life was meant to be, planned just for us, and in our best interest? What if we had a guarantee that the people we love are experiencing exactly what they need in order to become who they're intended to become? Further, what if we had a guarantee that others can be responsible for themselves, and we don't have to control or take responsibility for them?
What if we knew the future was going to be good, and we would have an abundance of resources and guidance to handle whatever comes our way? What if we knew everything was okay, and we didn't have to worry about a thing? What would we do then?
We'd be free to let go and enjoy life. Make that choice today, and stop worrying! Believe that life does come with the guarantees you just read. Desire them to become real in your life. Ask for the blessings that these guarantees can bring to you and those you love. If you can conceive this, and believe this, you will achieve this. Go ahead, you deserve to be free and enjoy life.
Michael
email: Michael@N-Spire.com
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