Worry
Worry....giving in to anxiety and allowing our minds to dwell on troubles; both real or imaginary. Some say, "why worry about something that hasn't, or may never happen?" If only it were that easy; to just let the worry fall away.
I have always envied those who have the ability to leave worrying to others. How carefree and calm their lives must be without having that constant weight on their minds.
Looking back, I would say that worrying has been a part of my life since youth. Of course, in younger years it was about much smaller things like passing a test or wondering if I would make it through an oral book report. In teen years it becomes more personal as we worry about being accepted by our peers, praying we will be invited to social gatherings, and hoping that someone we have a crush on also has a crush on us. Things that can make or break our self-esteem.
As we become adults the worries and anxiety changes as we struggle to find our way in the world. Finding the right career path, or getting married and having children, change what our minds become occupied with. The "what ifs" become bigger as the potential risks are higher.
I know anyone can be a worrier, but women seem to have honed this skill to perfection. Whether it is our spouse/partner, children, siblings or aging parents, we worry. When it comes to our family, we seem to be able to imagine the worst-case scenario in so many situations. Of course, most of the time everything comes out just fine, and we have wasted precious moments that could have been used on more enjoyable thoughts.
Age and wisdom tend to make us worry less. Maturity, knowing we are not here forever, and realizing we can't control everything changes our perspective. We may never stop worrying until our time here is done, but in time we do learn to let some of it go so we may enjoy life as much as possible.
In the words of Somers Rache, Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.
The key is to not allow that stream of fear control our lives.
I have always envied those who have the ability to leave worrying to others. How carefree and calm their lives must be without having that constant weight on their minds.
Looking back, I would say that worrying has been a part of my life since youth. Of course, in younger years it was about much smaller things like passing a test or wondering if I would make it through an oral book report. In teen years it becomes more personal as we worry about being accepted by our peers, praying we will be invited to social gatherings, and hoping that someone we have a crush on also has a crush on us. Things that can make or break our self-esteem.
As we become adults the worries and anxiety changes as we struggle to find our way in the world. Finding the right career path, or getting married and having children, change what our minds become occupied with. The "what ifs" become bigger as the potential risks are higher.
I know anyone can be a worrier, but women seem to have honed this skill to perfection. Whether it is our spouse/partner, children, siblings or aging parents, we worry. When it comes to our family, we seem to be able to imagine the worst-case scenario in so many situations. Of course, most of the time everything comes out just fine, and we have wasted precious moments that could have been used on more enjoyable thoughts.
Age and wisdom tend to make us worry less. Maturity, knowing we are not here forever, and realizing we can't control everything changes our perspective. We may never stop worrying until our time here is done, but in time we do learn to let some of it go so we may enjoy life as much as possible.
In the words of Somers Rache, Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.
The key is to not allow that stream of fear control our lives.
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