Thought For Today

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Thought for Today: Give up the Habit of Worrying

Give Up the Habit of Worrying
"As we grow in strength in our spiritual life, we give up the habit of worrying. It serves no purpose other than to make us feel tense and miserable. When I stop fretting about things that are beyond my control and focus instead on generating optimistic and kind thoughts, my life can begin to flow in ever more positive directions. Such a light and easy approach to life enables me to take everything in my stride."
The above quote and Thought for Today photo below are from: http://www.thoughtfortoday.org.uk/
Boy does this ever hit home today. I stayed up late as I wasn't tired, I couldn't sleep very well once I did get to bed, I've been up twice, and the third time decided to stay up. I go to my e-mail and synchronicity: this is the thought for today! You see I'm still dealing with the results from that broken hand since March 15th. The bones have healed and I have all but one motion back; and I am very grateful for that. Unfortunately, without that one motion, I can't open doors, take off jar lids, type easily, pick up anything heavy etc... Annoying and problematic at work but minor in comparison to what others deal with on a daily basis. Today I go at 11:15 am EST and have a bone chip removed from my hand and other repairs to the damage done by may fall. I didn't think I was worried as I'm actually excited that I'm having it done. Even if it's never 100%, at least he says I'll be able to open doors and pick up a cup of coffee with that hand again. When I was leaving work and saying good bye to everyone yesterday, they were all mystified that I was actually excited about having the surgery today. (Just a friendly reminder; ... don't walk two dogs at once {smiles}. Or at least don't walk two dogs at once and then proceed to trip over the littlest dog.... And for those who don't know, the Dogs are OK and were unharmed.... there walking buddy on the other hand, not so lucky...)


I truly thought I wasn't worried. And still don't feel it, yet my inability to sleep, tells a different story. Our subconscious is so powerful. It can distract us and keep us from living the life we are meant to live. Worry, fear, doubts (subconsciously) work behind the scenes almost undetectable, until it creates a mishap, a malfunction, sudden amnesia on the stage of life.

As I'm playing my part on this stage called life, the Director allows us to have free will to play our part. However, He is always there with a queue, guiding us back to the script if we get too far off track. Through life there are various spot lights that shine when we're the center of the play, on track, doing, saying feeling the part with such accuracy we get our very own Light. We are on track, in the Light, filled with self confidence, motivation, Joy, Love and Creativity.... The play of life is Blissful and we are doing the right things, following the Voice inside, listening to the Guiding Spirit of Life.... Then there are times when a "prop" doesn't work, or an entrance is blown, the lights flicker, we trip and fall, stumble over our lines, and sometimes we even forget our lines and slip off into the shadows to hide. Ego, fear and worry distract us from our part, they enter in and keep us from moving forward in the rest of our play.

The proverbial: what if's; did I's; am I's; I'm not good enough's; should I's; could I's; I can't.... worry, self doubts and fear enter... The play of life seems to stop as we allow these things to take over our being, our purpose, our thoughts, and even our life. They can be catastrophic and consume us if we let them... We can get stuck in the darkness of the shadows of this stage(life). We get overwhelmed and can't move, can't speak, can't get on with the Joy of living in the Lighted part of the stage.... The darkness seems so strong, so powerful, how can we ever find the joy to life again... These feelings, events, illnesses, losses, etc... in our life are not lost on the Director. He's been there all along above the stage, watching, standing there with his Light waiting for us to notice it again, see it's Guiding rays and move out of the dark shadows where we've put ourselves.
We've been given free will on this stage of life and we can choose how we act. We can choose the path we take, we can stay in the shadows of life, live in the darkness of worry, fear, self doubt, hate, loneliness, without light, without hope, we can choose to only see the darkness. However, The Director always wants to bring us back to the stage, back to the Light, back to Hope, back to Love, back to Healing of mind, body and soul. The Light is always there, shining for us with Love and Guidance encouraging us to continue when we think we cannot. Feeding us with knowledge and courage to stand again, live again, love again, even through the darkest part of our life, the Master Director is there. When we are at our lowest and darkest place; where life seems hopeless, unfair, full of despair, loneliness, fear and worry,... that Light Shines, bringing other actors to the stage, to lift us, guide us from the darkness back into the Light. Worry lessens and Faith and Hope returns as we step back to take our place on the stage of Life.

We can control worry, fear, anxieties, etc... if we follow our True Heart, Follow the Light that Guides us.... Focus on others and the self will follow. My trials and troubles are all manageable if I just follow that Light Shinning inside my Spirit. It's always there, it's always been there, and it will always be there... I just have to open my heart and let it in.
May the Director Guide your steps today, may actors on your stage comfort you and bring you to the Light . May worries give way to Hope, may fears give way to Love, and may darkness give way to Light. Blessings to you and yours always. The Director didn't bring you too it if he wasn't going to get you through it. Trust in the Light and your stage will be illuminated even when you feel you can't....

Peace, Hope, Guidance, Love and Light be yours today and always.
Love and Light,
Nina P

15 comments:

Clytie said...

Thank you for this today, Nina. What you say is so true.

May God be with you today, especially, guiding the hands of the doctors and others who will be doing your surgery today.

Anonymous said...

Nina, you spoke directly to me today! I am so grateful for you beautiful soul!

This:As I'm playing my part on this stage called life, the Director allows us to have free will to play our part. However, He is always there with a queue, guiding us back to the script if we get too far off track.

YES! He does and He is!
I wish I could hug you right now! You have restored me!

septembermom said...

Your words help me so much. Thank you sweet Nina. I'm sending all my prayers and hugs your way today :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the visit to my blog and for the comment there.

I enjoyed your blog post for today. I hope your surgery turned out fine.

Renee said...

Powerful post Nina.

xoxo

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hello Nina, My poor mother (God rest her soul) always worried about EVERYTHING. One thing which stands out in my mind even to this day --was that she told me NEVER to sit in the car with my boyfriend out in front of our house (when he brought me home at night from a date). She 'worried' about what the neighbors would think.. WELL----to me, as a young teen, that said that it was okay to 'park' anywhere else we wanted to as long as we weren't in front of our home.

After I grew up and had kids of my own, I decided at that time that I was not going to worry about things which I had no control over (like my mother did her entire life).

I've done pretty well with that--although the old worry-bug does hit me at times. You are right... It's a choice we make.

I'm glad that your surgery has 'almost' worked for you. I HOPE that you will be back to normal soon. My only advice is to be PATIENT. That's another one I have trouble with!!!!!

Hugs and thanks for a great blog.. Now, get some sleep.
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Wow this very good, you. I am liking this 'stage' and 'director'
I am a born worrier. I worry about everything, I even worry that I don't have something to worry about! Ha!
But what your words say are very true.
Be well Nina P.

Deann said...

Dear Nina,
You are such an uplifting soul you truly do bring light and truth to others keep up the good work. Many blessing to you.

Nina said...

I wnt to thank everone for sending, thoughts, enery and prayers my way yesterday. The surgery went well and there was less damage to repair than originally thought. It was interesting and humbling to not be able to feel or move my entire arm for 12 hiurs due to the nerve block. I have a deeper appreciatin about a lot of thing, people now. Again I thank you all for your kind words and support. I'm already typing faster with one hand (smiles) You can do anything with Perservierance and DivineGrace. Blessings to all. and again, Thank You. Love and Light, Nina P

DB said...

Hello Nina. There ought to be a 12step program for worriers. "Hi. My name is DB and I'm a worrier." Fear and worry ran my mother's life. If one of her children was due home at 4:30 at 4:32 the pacing began. By 4:40 it was "I just know something terrible has happened." The worst part was that when he finally came through the door, 15 minutes late, he was scolded for making her worry. I don't think she ever got it.

I inherited her worry habit. But it's not stage fright. I worry about the threats in the wings while I'm busy on stage. But the answer is that fear has only the power we give it, or that we don't refuse to let it have. The director has given us the right to decree for ourselves the goodness we want and the expectation to have it established unto us. Deny the worst and affirm the best until the heart accepts it.

DB

Anonymous said...

I have lived for 7 years with horrific nerve pain and an unstable cervical spine Doctors can do nothing about. Among many things on my journey I have learned you can change how your brain functions given time and patience.

I really hope you suffer no after-effects of the surgery Nina. All the best in your recovery.

"Even when we discover what motivates us, we realize that we can't go the distance alone." ~ Christopher Reeve

Bless you.

Matthew

Unknown said...

Hi, Nina, sorry to hear about your health issue. Here's hoping today's surgery does the trick!

Experienced a shoulder nerve issue that went on for years and in the process learned how to adapt and use my non-dominant hand for everyday life. Sure took a while but I figured it out over time and have been the better for it. The nerve finally healed too. Now I'm ambidexterous - life bonus!

What really helped in the long process was to take up Tai Chi which is low impact and done slowly. It also develops equally and balances both sides of the brain. You will be surprised at how well and how quickly your functions will return doing this simple exercise. That might be of help as you go through this process. Bet that bone chip was pressing on a nerve or impeding the muscles to work fully and causing swelling that only impacted it all that much more. Whatever it was let's hope it stays in the past and your healing moves rapidly, your hand healed by Inner Light! XXXOO

p.s. btw, did a similar "worry" post today: a poem to poets and writers who worry too much about how their writing will be received. Great minds think alike! :)

also, when I can't sleep it's usually God nudging me to go write something because other people are wrestling with something spiritually and I can sense it - it often turns out to be some of my best writing as a result of being obedient to get up in the middle of the night - life bonus!

miruspeg said...

Nina your thoughts are so wise and inspiring.....YOU are so wise and inspiring.

There is a song by U2 running through my head..."Stuck in the moment". Here are some of the lyrics:

"I'm not afraid
Of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find
A decent melody
A song that I can sing
In my own company

I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you. Ooh.
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
'Cause tears are going nowhere baby

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it"

Whereever I get "stuck in a moment" I think of this song and move forward.

I loved that poem you wrote over at my blog..Peace, Hope, Love, Life...you are so thoughtful and loving Nina, you are definitely a shining light.

Lots of love and light always.
Peggy xxx

Anonymous said...

If only.... I'm a worrier by nature. Yet it makes sense not to worry - since it is futile and doesn't change a thing. I can but try.

Tammie Lee said...

Hello Nina, I am late to wish you well on your surgery. Still I of course wish you the very best and look forward to hearing how it helps you! I so agree with you about the inability to sleep well. That happens to me whenever I need to change something in my life. May all the blessings you wish for us be yours tenfold!