How Simple

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"How simple it is to see that all the worry in the world cannot control the future. How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now. And that there will never be a time when it is not now."... Gerald Jampolsky

What a wonderful quote to find when I so badly needed a sane reminder of this simple truth. Worry is a mind-numbing: negative: doesn't change a damn thing: wasteful emotion that means me nothing but harm. It disturbs my relationship with gravity, demanding I struggle to move from place to place, insisting that i struggle to get a deep breath, using all of its weight to separate me from peace and happiness. In case you didn't know, worry cannot take even one single step on its own; it demands to be carried shoulder high, and once picked up it's as hard put down as an angry octopus.

It constricts our space, stature, emotions, but the real damage is always done inside our brain. It rearranges perfectly sane mind-sets. It tramples out every positive notion it comes across. It inhabits a throne and the echo of its screams remind us non-stop of trouble that for the most part we have no power to alter. Sometimes we fret for loved ones living in situations we have absolutely no control over... sometimes we agonize over a misstep we took that cannot be un-taken... sometimes we hunger for things lost which aren't within our power to retrieve. Whatever the worry is, it begins as a small nagging whisper, but the more we listen the higher the intensity and volume.

Worry is mental cancer, which if left untreated will steal your very quality of life. Once it gets a firm hold then it invites its gang to move in as well. Doubt, jealousy, bitterness, and hopelessness soon follow worry inside. The boys quickly evict faith, hope, confidence, and peace. What is left is total gridlock of mind and heart. With no control over these delinquents they don't waste any time trashing the place. Any positive thought is instantly slashed to bits. Sleep evades capture... and by this point if you don't begin to get a grip your body will protest with a stress related issue.

What we don't deal with has a bad habit of dealing with us. Deciding to be happy is the first step once you give the situation to God, trusting that he is capable of sorting it out without your interference. Your worried mind will protest, by speeding up the what ifs and should haves to a fever pitch. Just refer it all to God. "Look, I'm just the janitor here, got some cleaning to do. Don't question me, if you need anything call upstairs."

Once you begin to pay less attention to worry, it returns the favor. There seems to be little benefit for its long drawn out dramatic speeches when nobody is listening. As you get stronger it gets weaker. Its buddies get bored and wander away, leaving space for your trusted friends to move back in. Misery loves company so worry has no option except to follow the negative crowd on its journey to the next unwary victim.

Dare to be as happy as possible in spite of anything you face, or before long you'll be doomed to be unhappy over almost everything. Keep control of your emotions, or they will control you. If it's too big to carry then hand it to God and tidy up the mess it made to whatever degree you can. Since now is all you have for certain, make certain you honor it by not tossing it to the dogs. If they're hungry let them feast elsewhere. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!