Every day… I worry less and less…
I used to worry so very much
but I have learned through the years that worry does NOTHING for me.
Worry has never solved a problem.
Worry has never decreased the risk of the problem.
Worry has never made me feel better.
Worry has never done anything for me…
So, why worry?
I am not saying don’t consider the negative consequences of things.
That makes us smarter.
That makes us potentially act to reduce the risk of those things.
That makes us aware and able to affect it in some way.
What is worry?
Worry is fear without action…
Worry is fear without faith…
Worry is fear with hopelessness…
Worry is anxiety, stress over possible outcomes and consequences that haven’t happened yet.
And, here is what I know…
I saw my father worry for 89 years of his life…
worry about running out of money - and he never did…
worry about thieves breaking into his home and stealing all of his stuff - and they never did…
worry that I would stay in the US - and I did and his worrying didn’t stop me…
worry that my mother was getting alzheimers - and she did and his worrying didn’t stop her…
worry that noone would remember him after he died - and I think about him everyday…
worry that after he died my mother would not eat fruit - and she still does…
I see so many people worry more and more as they age,
instead of less and less…
and that makes no sense to me.
Or, better stated - it seems sooooo wasteful to me… I get why it happens…
Here is what I know…
I have never come across anything in my life that stopped me.
I have never come across anything in my life that was bigger than I could handle (though I may not have realized it at the time).
Sure, I have had many surprises in my life, many sad moments, many moments of grief and disapointment and disillusionment… but all of those have made me stronger, all of those have made me wiser, all of those have made me better…
So, why worry?
It is not that I don’t expect to be surprised, disappointed, or even flabbergasted again…
It is not that I expect a life free from tragedy and boundless grief…
Those things will happen - those things are life.
But, why worry?
As worry won’t prevent those things from happening, and will simply steal moments that otherwise could be full of joy and gratitude and presence.
Why worry before something happens - if it won’t alter the probability?
Why worry after something happens - if its already happened?
I know some people say that worry is “bigger than I am”…
It’s not.
It may be bigger than you are in this moment, but it is absolutely not bigger than you are… You are wonderfully powerful!
You must start by accepting that you are as powerful as you are…
You must start by being grateful for the amazing life that you already live…
You must start by embracing that suffering is part of our journey…
You must start by accepting that there are external factors that by definition WILL BE outside of your control…
You mus start by owning the factors that you DO control and leveraging those…
Why would I worry about a plane falling from the sky, but not worry about lowering my cholesterol.
If the plane falls it falls… and I am not willing not to fly.
If I want to do what is in my power to live a healthy life - then I should eat differently. If I am not willing to eat a different diet and exercise, why worry about my cholesterol…
I don’t worry about dying… because I know I will.
I don’t worry about failing… because I know I will.
I don’t worry… about almost anything
because it does nothing for me…
and, what I can control
is how I spend my moments,
how I live my life,
how much deliberate control I exert about those aspects of my life that I can and should control…
I don’t worry about my boys beyond a certain point, because their life is their life, not mine…
I have concerns - but I do what I can to influence in the outcomes of those things that concern my by affecting the variables that I can control…
Step into your strength, into your resilience, into your peace… and it’s a discipline that takes years to master, and you never fully do…
Why worry?
Don’t…
Live deliberately, humbly, and ready to embrace the joy and the pain…
It’s all part of the journey,
and the moment…
and moments are momentary ;-)
and moments are life…
in harmony,
Nestor