Worry or anxiety is intense concern for someone else's well-being or, more frequently, negative self-appraisal that distracts the mind from focusing on the present moment with a positive outlook. Worry is the mind’s line of attack on happiness, enjoyment and self-confidence. When I worry, I am my own worst enemy.
I can tell you about worry because I’m known to be one of the world’s worst worriers. I don’t do it intentionally, but habitually, time and time again, even though I KNOW that I shouldn’t worry. The smallest incident or dilemma can initiate an enormous congregation of tribulations for my mind to ramble through. So you can imagine the consequences of any real life problem I’m met with.
Most often, there isn’t a person or even a problem worthy of attention that pulls this inner trigger. It is my own thoughts. My own mind.
Joyce Meyer , a minister who writes inspiratational books for Christians, wrote Battlefield of the Mind, a book focused on encouraging Christians who worry to change their thoughts from pessimistic to optimistic. This isn’t an easy “battle” to fight but the book provides readers with incentive through scriptures and the author’s personal experiences. She reaches into the heart of the matter, convincing Christians with reminders that worry is a sin. And, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Worry is one of those things in my life that I am forever fighting with. My personal war with worry isn’t something I really care to admit or address, even though it’s certainly something I’ve had my share of battles with. Worry has driven me to plenty of destinations I didn’t ever intend to arrive at. Drugs, drinks and destructive behaviors that left me with even more worries, are only a few of those destinations that I don’t want to mention. I can’t begin to list the disruption worry has welcomed into my life. Without any doubt, worry is a part of me and worry is my worst enemy.
Today I was reminded, once again, of the effects worry has had in my life. As I was reading through my email I came across a link to a Grace To You article written by John MacArthur, entitled “A Worried Christian”. Naturally, being the worrier that I am, I clicked on the link that led me to conclude that worrying truly is, and has always been, the main reason (at intervals) for my defeat as a Christian. Worry has been the culprit for innumerable life choices and decisions that went beyond self-destructive and harmful. The injustice and injury I’ve allowed into my life because I “worry” goes beyond insulting or offensive. Worry has corrupted my life and I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this evil inner fiend has to go.
I came to this conclusion a long time ago, but haven’t yet completed the transition from worried to worry-free. The minute I decide to clear my mind of worry I discover something new (and, sometimes, something old) to worry about. Clearly, worry is something I will be wrestling with for a lifetime but recognizing that worry is the enemy helps to keep me focused on fighting instead of giving into the enemy without objection. Finally, I’ve taken the initiative and declared war on worry.
And, the battle continues. ..
Quotes for people who worry:
If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. ~ Don Herold
Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which will never happen. ~ James Russel Lowell
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ~ Leo Buscaglia
If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep. ~ Dale Carnegie
I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time. ~ Charlie Brown (Charles Schulz)
Troubles are a lot like people - they grow bigger if you nurse them. ~ Author Unknown
If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today. ~ E. Joseph Cossman
I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number. ~ Edith Armstrong
People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross. ~ Author Unknown
You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. ~ Pat Schroeder
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. ~ Elbert Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927
Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere. ~ Glenn Turner
Panic is a sudden desertion of us, and a going over to the enemy of our imagination. ~ Christian Nevell Bovee
Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face. ~ Nelson DeMille
For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe. ~ Author Unknown
If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you'll die a lot of times. ~ Dean Smith
Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~ Swedish Proverb
Worry bankrupts the spirit. ~ Berri Clove
Worry, doubt, fear and despair are the enemies which slowly bring us down to the ground and turn us to dust before we die. ~ Attributed to Douglas MacArthur
You can never worry your way to enlightenment. ~ Ed Northstrum
I am reminded of the advice of my neighbor. "Never worry about your heart till it stops beating." ~ E.B. White
A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work. ~ John Lubbock
As a rule, what is out of sight disturbs men's minds more seriously than what they see. ~ Julius Caesar
Worry is a complete cycle of inefficient thought revolving about a pivot of fear. ~ Author Unknown
Loneliness, insomnia, and change: the fear of these is even worse than the reality. ~ Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
Some patients I see are actually draining into their bodies the diseased thoughts of their minds. ~ Zacharty Bercovitz
Some of your hurts you have cured,
And the sharpest you still have survived,
But what torments of grief you endured
From the evil which never arrived.
I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. ~ Mark Twain
My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened. ~ Michel de Montaigne
If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you. ~ Calvin Coolidge
When one has too great a dread of what is impending, one feels some relief when the trouble has come. ~ Joseph Joubert
Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist. ~ Edgar Watson Howe
How much pain they have cost us, the evils which have never happened. ~ Thomas Jefferson
When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around. I even have to go to the bathroom when I worry about something. Only, I don't go. I'm too worried to go. I don't want to interrupt my worrying to go. ~ J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. ~ Arthur Somers Roche
There are people who are always anticipating trouble, and in this way they manage to enjoy many sorrows that never really happen to them. ~ Josh Billings
Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is with thoughts of what may be. ~ John Dryden
Love looks forward, hate looks back, and anxiety has eyes all over its head. ~ Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due. ~ William Ralph Inge
Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there. ~ Author Unknown
Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail
No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. ~ George MacDonald
Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow. ~ Philip Gulley
Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~ Mary C. Crowley
Links for people who worry:
Panic Disorder
New York Times article on Worry
Anxiety
Reasons Not To Worry
We Worry: A blog for the anxious
© 2008 by Regina Hill
