Worry is like a disease; in fact, some doctors think that worry is a killer disease. We are bombarded all the time with things to worry about. Worries are contagious – even if I am free of worry, everyone else around me is worrying, and worrying why I am not worrying! If I really understand the damage that worry can do, then I must take action to protect myself. Some people think that it is important to worry because it can be taken as a sign that something needs attention or that care must be taken. Paying attention to a worry is like eating rotten fruit. When I need to be aware of something for my good, then other agencies are available and will let me know, like intuition and instinct. These are not worries, they are powerful signs it would be wise to listen to. Worrying is a habit but we can create a new habit of not worrying. To do this though, we need to understand where worries come from, or we will be unlikely to remove them.
It is safe to say that 100 per cent of worries come from one form of fear or another. There are many types of fear, physical fear, anxiety, stress, pain or sorrow. There are subconscious fears, and we may not always be aware that we are acting on these. We may be afraid of public opinion, of being rejected, not loved. Most fears originate from a form of doubt, uncertainty, lack of clarity. Doubt leads to fear and fear leads to worry.
The spiritual work is at the root level of our thoughts, and that is to inject thoughts that are the complete opposite of doubt. The opposite of fear is faith, which means having no doubts at all. It is based on deep understanding. There is a difference between just hearing spiritual knowledge and becoming convinced of the truth of it, and having faith. Conviction and certainty can become arrogance. Working on the level of understanding and faith is much better because with that comes humility, and the willingness to go on learning. It is in the putting into practice and testing the validity of knowledge, that wisdom and faith are created. I need to work with this wisdom and faith to counteract any kind of a glimmer of worry.
The structure of the mind is something that only I can work with, no-one else can help me. A doctor can help with the body, therapists can try to help but, in the end, I am the only one who can do the work in my own mind. So, the practice is to find thoughts that can powerfully counteract thoughts of worry, should they arise. We have to create a blend of thoughts, full of everything we may need. At breakfast time, we can put fruit, vegetables, vitamins and minerals all into a blender and whizz them all into a nourishing smoothie drink to set us up for the day. We can do the same with our mind. Fill the mind each day with good and powerful thoughts for the day to come. It is like creating our own spiritual smoothie or mantra. It needs at least five ingredients, which will be different for each one.
Here are three that could be added:
1. On waking – “Wow! I’m alive, I’m on planet earth and participating in the miracle of life and the drama that is unfolding”.
2. “I’m on holiday.” Generating thoughts of being on vacation brings the wonderful feeling of freedom we feel when we get away from it all.
3. “I will only do what is based on my own personal will, because I want to do it, not because I should”. If I go to work for example, it is because I want to go to work.
This smoothie will give me the sustenance to handle any difficulty that may arise. However, overusing the mantras seems to make them lose power. “It will be alright” is a good mantra, but it is overused. We can keep creating more original and fascinating additions that will become new flavours for our spiritual smoothies.
One that is being enjoyed at the moment is: “I am a yogi soul”. A yogi is wise, powerful, steady, strong. I like meditation, and am attracted to the mysteries of eternity and life on earth, in the universe. Yogis are very powerful, they have no fear, they are deeply peaceful and wise. As I make this a part of my everyday nutritious start each morning, faith becomes stronger, not because I have the conviction but because I am practising it, experiencing and living the truth of it.
Eric Le Reste is a journalist and producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and coordinates the activities of Brahma Kumaris centres in Canada.