perturbed by politics?
terrified about terrorists?
concerned about climate change?
overwrought with offspring?
hyper about health?
frightened about finances?
annoyed by alliteration?
Back in 2001, my daughter Heidi read a book that explained how to deal with these (and all other) alarms. She then emailed me a short review of what she had learned.
The world hasn't gotten any easier to live in since then, so I pass her review on to you. Read it. It could change your life.
If you feel you need additional clarification, please check out this Bobby McFerrin video:Just don't worry about anything. It's no big deal. Really. Not in the grand scheme of things.
But if you do worry about something, don't worry about the fact that you are worrying about something. Just let the feeling of worry wash over you, because it is natural to worry.
But if you do worry that you are worrying about worrying, please do not worry about it.
Developing inner peace and the ability not to worry is a process, and in a process sometimes you have to take a couple steps backward in order to take a couple steps forward. So obviously you will backslide and worry about worrying about worrying about worrying about worrying about worrying about worrying.
In other words, the way to inner peace is to accept that you really won't have any, and then all of this won't bother you at all, unless it does sometimes, because it's only natural.
So don't let it get to you. When it gets to you.
Heidi channelled the best of the mindfulness and meditation traditions. The Dalai Lama couldn't have said it better!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! :)
ReplyDeletePray more, worry less!
ReplyDelete"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
thanks Heidi
Mel
No discussion about worry is complete without a word from Woody Allen. From Annie Hall:
ReplyDeleteDr. Flicker: Why are you depressed, Alvy?
Mrs. Singer: Tell Dr. Flicker. It's something he read.
Dr. Flicker: Something you read, huh?
Alvy Singer: The universe is expanding.
Dr. Flicker: The universe is expanding?
Alvy Singer: Well, the universe is everything, and if it's expanding, someday it will break apart, and that will be the end of everything.
Mrs. Singer: What is that your business? He's stopped doing his homework.
Alvy Singer: What's the point?
Mrs. Singer: What has the universe got to do with it. You're here, in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is not expanding.
Dr. Flicker: It won't be expanding for billions of years yet, Alvy. And we've gotta try and enjoy ourselves while we're here. Huh? Huh? Huh? [laughs]