Worry is a quiet thief, disguising itself as preparation while weighing us down with fear and control. It convinces us that by dwelling on what might happen, we’re protecting ourselves from pain. To break free, we must understand its roots, challenge its illusions, and learn to trust in life’s natural flow.
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Why worry? Because of fear. Fear manifests in countless shades of gray — a numbing palette that dims a sunny day or deepens the gloom of an overcast sky. When fear takes the form of worry, it becomes especially tragic.
Worry is rooted in a sense of powerlessness and victimhood that can seep into our very core. It readily takes up residence in our hearts if we allow it. By worrying, we place our trust in our distrust of everything.
In our fear-driven culture, we worry about nearly everything: money, education, sex, health, politics, the environment, the planet, the unknown — whether it’s from the skies above or beneath the surface of the Earth. We worry about conflicts, “viruses,” chemtrails, waking, sleeping, living, dying, making a difference, our souls, our bodies, the afterlife, even what to do if we win the lottery.
But what is worry, really? It doesn’t help us function well. We survive, yes, but merely surviving is a long way from thriving.
Worry is a symptom of our belief in the linear, controlled nature of life. It provides a false sense of grounding while ultimately paralyzing us. At its core, worry is about trying to control everything — our feelings, our outcomes, our experiences — because we fear the pain that might come from losing control or facing what we’d rather avoid.
We. Fear. Pain. Yet, we place far too much faith in its potential for misery, striving to control everything in an attempt to avoid it. The tragedy is this: the human spirit does not respect control. Not in the slightest. While pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.
We believe that if we don’t control our thoughts, we’ll lose our minds, our choices, or our peace. If we don’t control our children, they’ll spiral out of control. If we don’t control our finances, we’ll go bankrupt. If we don’t control our relationships, they’ll fall apart.
If we don’t control the world around us — through endless wars, manipulative trade policies, or incessant propaganda — someone else might gain influence, and that is simply unacceptable.
Control, at best, is a harmful illusion. Fortunately, we can learn to mitigate its extremes. By raising our awareness and breaking outdated patterns, we can detach from the need to control and instead engage in the flow of life. But this process takes time — it won’t happen overnight.
Worry, like all negative emotions, is a barometer. It signals that something needs our attention. Where did this worry come from? Who does it belong to? What do I gain from holding on to it? Is it even real? Is it true?
To worry less, we must shift our focus to trusting the natural flow and timing of life. Life is always happening, always in motion. It is immeasurable, unpredictable, and beautifully uncontainable. Life simply is.
Love your life
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“Substance (Dance Pop Remix)” from Fleshwound Restitched