Friday, July 9, 2021
Trying to avoid worry creates more worry. The mind produces thoughts, and those thoughts create worrisome feelings. Worry is a response to the mind’s incessant need to overthink. Although you cannot control thoughts, you can be more aware of when the mind becomes thoughtless or empty. Most humans are addicted to the stream of thoughts that the mind produces, and they never notice when it gets quiet. Noticing this mental, quiet space is more than noticing nothing. Most people would refer to this as meditation, but it is the most effective way to lessening the burden of worry itself. You can’t necessarily stop worry, but you can lessen its duration and its effects on your life by learning what to pay attention to.
The next time you say or hear someone else say “Don’t worry,” remember that not only is that bad advice, it’s simply not possible, and it could lead to even more worry. Instead, when tragedy ensues, and after taking necessary and immediate action to keep yourself and others safe, move into the conscious space of stillness, presence, and full awareness. Anchor yourself to the gaps in between your thoughts. Anchor yourself to silence and the cessation of thinking. Your mind will tell you that paying attention to this so-called nothing is boring and pointless, but your soul will come alive in ways that will surprise you. You’ll gain strength to respond to difficult people and situations while maintaining a sense of peace. You’ll be able to make decisions for yourself that you know are right, and you’ll be able to make light out of what others think is so serious and heavy. If it’s not life or death, it’s simply not that serious. And if it’s not serious, you can be peaceful and accepting. Connecting to and noticing the inner stillness of no thought, brings worry to its knees. Although you’ll never be able to stop worrying, you can learn to have more peace, which is always accessible to you in noticing when the mind stops thinking. Anchor yourself by focusing on the stillness of the present moment, and you can lessen the burden of worry in ways that are real and lasting.