Worry?

People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins, they wonder whether they are catching cold. - John Jay Chapman

This has long been one of my favorite quotes because it reminds us, in a humorous way, how we have been trained to focus on the negative, to worry about things instead of looking to the blessings that surround us. We worry that we may not be good enough, that we are lacking in skill, knowledge, beauty, money, or whatever. What is the greatest tragedy is that we miss the treasure that is within us, that we are already equipped with, that we can use to be the blessing we seek to be or achieve that goal that is burning in our hearts. When I sink into worry I find it helpful to do the following:

• Calm down & breathe
• Dismiss the thoughts but acknowledge the feelings
• Spend some time reflecting on other times I have worried myself
• Focus on alternatives or options that I may have and see if they are viable
• Breathe (did I mention that already?)
• Ask myself what this situation will be like once I get past it
• Breathe, studies have shown when we are stressed we hold our breath. Make sure you are breathing!!
• If there is action you can take, take it. If nothing can be done at the moment, make it a point to postpone your focus on it for a later time
• When you get through whatever you were worry about (or when what you feared didn't happen) spend a few moments to debrief yourself about your thoughts, emotions, actions, and inactions. It will help you in the future when other situations come up.

And if the first quote didn't get you laugh or thinking about how useless worry is in our lives...maybe this will make you chuckle!

Worry is as useless as a handle on a snowball. - Mitzi Chandler

Be blessed and remember to always speak kindly, especially to yourself!