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Worry
ClayTheScribe
Veteran
My anxiety fills so urgent. I have so much to get done this week and I keep thinking, "Well if I don't think about it, I'll forget it or won't plan properly." Why does it feel so urgent, even after I acknowledge it and let it go?
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one some level you want things to be different or you "believe" in something that is preventing you from accepting what is.
thus the anxiety. surrender and do what is obvious moment to moment.
it is merely a belief that you're holding onto that prevents you from seeing what is.
there is nothing for you to do. just be. just surrender into the mystery of your being.
the mind is the only thing in the world that creates a problem and sees a problem.
when you cut the mind and just see what is in front of you. is there a problem?
even if there is a problem, the solution is obvious. for instance if i am hungry, then i eat.
so how do we surrender?
it naturally happens when "we" do and try and strive all we can until we just give up.
To let go of things doesn't mean to be careless or ignorant, but to come as good as possible to the present.
Maybe that helps to understand worry and that letting go of worry does not mean to be airily, actually its the opposite. *smile*
The Present Is Mother of the Future
We may notice that the vase of flowers on the table is very beautiful, but the flowers never tell us of their beauty. We never hear them boast of their sweet scent.
When a person has realized nirvana, it is the same. He or she does not have to say anything. We can sense his beauty, her sweetness, just by being there.
There is no need to worry about the past or the future. The secret of happiness is to be entirely present with what is in front of you, to live fully in the present moment. You can’t go back and reshape the past. It’s gone! You can’t dictate the future. So there is no need to worry!
The next time I fly on an airplane, who knows what will happen? Maybe I will arrive safely, or maybe I won’t. When we make plans, we can make them only in the present moment. This is the only moment we can control. We can love this moment and use it well. Past suffering can never harm us, if we truly care for the present.
Take care of the present, and the future will be well. The Dharma is always in the present, and the present is the mother of the future. Take care of the mother, and the mother will take care of her child.
from "Step by Step" by Maha Ghosananda
How one makes a happy and peaceful life, Buddha explained the way of acting end reflecting well to his son:
"Whenever you want to do a bodily action, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then any bodily action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do. But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any bodily action of that sort is fit for you to do.
"While you are doing a bodily action (*also verbal and mental), you should reflect on it: 'This bodily action I am doing — is it leading to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Is it an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it is leading to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both... you should give it up. But if on reflection you know that it is not... you may continue with it.
"Having done a bodily action, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily action I have done — did it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Was it an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it led to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it was an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then you should confess it, reveal it, lay it open to the Teacher or to a knowledgeable companion in the holy life. Having confessed it... you should exercise restraint in the future. But if on reflection you know that it did not lead to affliction... it was a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then you should stay mentally refreshed & joyful, training day & night in skillful mental qualities.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.061.than.html
Perhaps it would best to work with your mind, instead of trying to do something with your anxiety and acceptance. Ajahn Jayasaro has a great counting breaths meditation on youtube. I would link it but I'm on my phone... but its easily searchable.
Instead of trying not to be something, such as distracted or anxious, a counting breaths meditation will give you something to do. This will give you a chance to use your activated body (expressing now as worry) in a skillful way... promoting focus and concentration.
Also, when there are many needs that require our tending, if we write them down on a checklist, we don't have to keep them swirling! We just keep the slip of paper in our pocket. Then, check by check our breaths go by.
Good luck friend!
With warmth,
Matt
Fear arises. At the moment know what you really want. The fear is the invitation. If you dont want fear then suffer. But if you are willing to explore and feel and perservere then clarity will dawn on you.
Best wishes!
Then you don't have to try and hold all those different things in your mind.
worry and concern are not the same thing. worry has a strong feeling of fear & aversion, concern does not. we often think worrying will somehow help us... make us less prone towards error in a given situation. but you can easily see this is false... and unclear mind is always less capable in any situation than a clear mind.
I have a very busy schedule, so I understand how the process of worry and anxiety works in relation. My suggestion to you would be to plan well, writing things down.. and don't procrastinate. Do things when, and in the order that you have designated for them.
Meditation also obviously is your best bet for eliminating residual anxiety over a given situation. Basic mindfulness of breathing is EXTREMELY effective for this in my experience.