Why Do We Worry?
Why Do We Worry?
Let’s start with understanding the definition of worry: to give way to anxiety or unease or to allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulties or troubles. The key point in the above definitions is that you have a choice:to allowone’s mind to dwell on difficulties or troubles…to give wayto anxiety. We have a choice how much free rent between our two ears we give to distressing thoughts that pop up in our mind. Too often we say: “I can’t help myself.” When the truth is…when you feel like you can’t help yourself …God always can.
Resist the urge to camp on the phrase:“I just can’t help myself”add a powerful tail ender that opens up the door in your mind to be able to tune into solution based thinking (frontal cortex): AND GOD CAN, therefore with God in and through me…I CAN.
When I went through advanced cancer my children all chipped in with my parents and bought me a western saddle with my favorite verse, Philippians 4:13, on the back of it:I CAN do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.So when the serpent of victimization would slither in between my two ears I would “Luke 4” it (in the gospel of Luke chapter 4 Jesus talks back to the devil) using Philippians 4:13.
Just because a thought pops in your head doesn’t mean you have to believe it. Talk back as soon as you realize you recognize that you are allowing your mind to dwell on the difficult situation.
In neurolinguistic programing, there is a tool called erase and replace. Simply capture the negative thought and declare “delete” or erase and quickly speak out a positive statement. For example, you notice a self-defeating thought: I can’t do this or I can’t handle this…DELETE…replace with …YET…God is with me, my strength, wisdom and courage I am able to move through difficult situations, I’ve done it before with God and I believe I will do it again.
Paul wrote the letter of Philippians when he was imprisoned in around 62 AD for his faith in Christ. His identity for so grounded in who God said he was that he was able to declare in chapter 4: Do not be anxious about ANYTHING but pray about everything and the peace of God which transcends ALL understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Worry is a story you make up yourself and believe about something in your future. Take back the power you are giving to unhealthy thoughts. Override them with, as St. Paul says in Chapter 4, thoughts that are good, right, true, beautiful, excellent and praise worthy.
Remember, you are the landlord of your mind. Stress is the power YOU give to the circumstance or negative through to define your worth, value and what you believe you are capable of handling successfully. Take it back with the power of God within you. Evict, cancel, delete and fill your mind with positive thoughts that anchor this truth: God adores you, He promises to never leave you or forsake you. With every storm Jesus comes too. God does His greatest work in the darkest nights. As Jesus said to Thomas: stop doubting and BELIEVE.
In Lights on Leadership Training we refer to worry as the story you make up about something in your future. Studies continue to reveal that the majority of what we worry about never even happens. We keep the worry alive by giving it our mental attention. Whatever you focus on grows bigger. When life doesn’t show up the way you want to, resist the urge to jump to the worst possible conclusion. Talk back to thoughts that are based in assumption, guessing, all or nothing thinking, orcatastrophizing. Whatever you starve of your attention will eventually die. You are the landlord of your mind, give free rent to positive thoughts that support the possible.
Support Resources:
- Edge God In Podcast:Why Do We Worry?
- Check out theEmotional Intelligence in Christ Project and sign up for the coming soon course.
- Watch Day 17 of the Stress Solutions for the Soul, 30 Day, 3 Min. a Day Wellness Program below.
- Audio CD’s & Books to Lower Stress & Boost Your Inner Peace: CLICK HERE and click on the store tab.