July/August 2002
Feature Articles
Holistic Health Q & A
by Dr. George Forster
Of whiplash and prescription drugs.
What is... the Organic Movement?
by Robert Roman
Part one of a three-part article detailing
the author's personal experiences and the growth of the organic movement.
UnCommon Sense!
by David Findlay
The Middle East, terrorism, weapons
of mass destruction.
Articles on the theme "To Worry Or Not To Worry"
What, Me Worry?
by AnneMarie Dyer
A vacation leads to some spiritual
insights.
Worrier To Warrior
by Lisa Raphael
The difference between someone who
worries and a warrior, a person of courage and vigor.
The Righteous Worrier!
by Rev. D. Kaye Patrick
Does worry really mean loving and caring?
Or is worrying a waste of time and energy?
Let It Go!
by Tracy Woolrich
Easy to say, but how to do it?
Why Worry?
by Bob Murray PhD
The underlying cause of over-anxious
reactions and generalized worry - and the solution.
A Balancing Act
by Charles Larsen
Of over-reacting and under-reacting
and the attempt to find a middle ground.
Too Blessed To Be Stressed
by Rev. Pat Cross
The power to choose between a human
or a spiritual view of our problems.
Remember Scarlett O'Hara
by Dave Hunt
A life without worry? How to achieve
it?
Let It Go!
Tracy Woolrich
Before you go to bed give your troubles to God. He stays up all night anyway. This quote is written on a magnet that rests on my mother's refrigerator. Originally it resided on my father's fridge for years before he died. It was a gift from me to my dad that was to represent that I had "gotten it" that I had understood what he meant when he tried to teach me to give my worries away because they had no value. It was a hard lesson for me as I had thought that the level of your love for someone was directly correlated to the level that you worried about him or her. I mean who needed hallmark cards to express your love when you could show how deep your feelings were by developing an ulcer! Slowly over time I came to realize that worry served no purpose other then to cause me emotional and physical distress. It did not happen overnight and it was not without its own level of stress but it happened nevertheless.
What if...
The cyclone derives its power from a calm center. So does a person. (Norman Vincent Peale)
So how does one change such a deep-seated core belief system? For me I had to try to catch myself in the early stages of the "what-if"s. Psychology teaches us that often it is our worry about a situation that causes us the most discomfort and NOT the situation itself. For example let's say you worry about an impending dentist visit and you allow yourself to envision the worst case scenario. You have not even gotten out of your car and already you just KNOW that the dentist will find a very extensive dental problem that will force you into mortgaging the house and that you will be in excruciating pain for days. Yet when you finally get to the dentist the most you get is a stern lecture on proper flossing. You are of course relieved to hear the good news but in the mean time you have lowered you immunity, raised your blood pressure, and you have a headache that you just KNOW must be from an aneurysm that is ready to burst in your brain. (Another worry!) This starts a vicious cycle that has to be caught as quickly as possible.
Changing the outcome...
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. (Marcel Proust)
A different approach could be to stop yourself in the early stages of worry and visualize the "perfect outcome." Try and stay positive. I believe that a lot of what we perceive that happens to us in our lives originates with our own thoughts. Don't start out with BIG changes here either. I mean your boss isn't going to all of a sudden give you a huge raise and promote you to VP overnight because you visualized it. However with practice you will find that by seeing things through positive eyes you will be able to change your perception of your surroundings. What could be less stressful than perceiving your life as calm, peaceful, and abundant in all ways? You might actually become exactly the person your boss wants as the next executive!
Write it down...
Writing crystallizes thought and thought produces action. (Paul J Meyer)
Writing brings a deeper level of learning, order, action and release than any other form of communication. Also just reading about the things that concern you can put you in a different frame of mind. Something that is really bothering you can seem to fade into a dull concern after you write it down and reread it to yourself. Another approach is to speak into a tape recorder and play it back to yourself, or just talk about your problems out loud. You would be surprised how different your problem becomes as you read it or listen to it and not just think about it.
Help, I need somebody...
Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them. (Albert Einstein)
Finding a sympathetic ear is crucial. If you have a friend, family member, co-worker or member of your church that you can trust to talk about your concerns often you can keep things in perspective before you start to nourish them into full blown worries. Make sure that whoever you talk to, however, is impartial to your problem and won't hold grievances. Nothing is worse then being upset about your spouse and telling your sister-in-law about your concerns only to have HER keep your worry alive much longer then you would!
Lets get spiritual...
You are in the Beloved... therefore infinitely dear to the Father, unspeakably precious to Him. (Norman Dowty)
If you are spiritual you may want to find a ritual that allows you to give your worries to a higher power. Whether it is using rosary beads, lighting candles, prayer, meditation, or walking a labyrinth, find something that will allow you to place your "problems" outside of yourself. Internalizing your feelings is what will cause you the emotional and physical stress that you desperately do not need. It has been statistically shown that individuals that have some type of ritual like this in their life suffer fewer illnesses, are happier, and have better work and social relationships. Let go and let God.
Help me...
Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions. (Oliver Wendel Holmes)
Sometimes you need additional help. There is nothing wrong with seeking professional help. It doesn't have to be a psychiatrist either. Often you can get counseling through your church, your work, a local hotline or support groups. If you don't want to venture out of the house why not get online and check out one of the many discussion groups that are out there. They truly are a remarkable source of encouragement and peace.
Relax...
There is more to life than increasing its speed. (Mahatma Gandhi)
Slow down! Try surrounding yourself in colors of blue and purple. They are very relaxing and may help to reduce stress and anxiety. Why not smell some lavender or take a walk in a garden for that matter. Listen to music that you find relaxing. Take a long weekend and quiet your mind. If however you find yourself too manic to relax then take your nervous energy and apply it therapeutically. Exercise and release some endorphins! Remember that it is impossible to think of two thoughts at the same time so if you are busy thinking about how many "reps" you are doing at the gym, guess what? You won't be thinking about your worries! It is like giving your mind a mini vacation.
I face a bright yet uncertain future right now as I am expecting my daughter in August. At the age of 40 God has chose to test my convictions on living a life with less worry! There was a time in my life when I would have been panic struck at every turn. I now hold fast to MY truth that is "I am sustained by the Love of God." I see my life as a spiritual journey, and it is when we begin to look at it in that way we can finally begin to make sense of our world. We can understand why we suffer and how we can ease that suffering, and finally find the love, joy and peace we have always longed for.
Tracy Woolrich is a RN, intuitive healer, holistic health practitioner and Reiki Master. Founder of 3T Reiki and Angel Essences Aromatherapy. St. Petersburg, FL (727) 560-9612. Reiki_Girl@webtv.net
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