What To Do With Worry

Worry is such an interesting paradox isn’t it? It feels truly terrible when we are in the throes of it. Our bodies, our hearts, and minds can feel overwhelmed or suffocated by worry. And yet, worry only happens because we care deeply about someone or something; it feels like something that we must accept as an unavoidable experience in life.

Our meditation practice can offer an alternative to this seemingly unavoidable paradox. Certainly with deep, sustained practice we might arrive in a place where we are able to be equanimous in all moments and unphased by the seemingly stressful or worrisome moments in life, but what about right now? What about those of us that are meditating but still get swept up in worry or fear?

Let’s start with rule number one: stop saying “Don’t Worry.”

Seriously. Does that phrase even mean anything? Does it do anything for the person worrying? If you could just stop, wouldn’t you have already done so?

Trying to ignore worry only makes it worse. When we ignore what we are feeling, it is simply lurking underneath all our thoughts and actions, very likely flaring up in displays of anxiety or anger instead.

That underlying worry, and overt anxiety/anger, can lead to unhealthy numbing behaviors like TV binging or addictive shopping, eating, drinking, drug use, etc.

So, let’s just let go of the “don’t worry” adage, and instead, what if we brave up, admit what we are actually feeling, and face it head on?

Worry has its roots in fear, and that overwhelming, suffocating feeling often comes from trying to ignore what it is we fear most in a particular situation... So our first step in moments of worry is to create and nurture a sense of safety for ourselves.

Join me for today’s talk and guided meditation designed to nurture a sense of safety within moments of worry.

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