Maybe You Should Stop Worrying About That
Not worrying isn’t the same as not caring.
The world looks pretty crazy right now. Between the election in the US, the Israel/Palestine conflict, Putin and his ambition, climate concerns, economic wackiness, and other matters, there’s plenty to occupy your mind.
It’s good to be aware of what’s happening in the world. That way you can make informed choices and decisions when it comes to certain matters. Specifically, though, this only applies to limited things you can do such as vote, boycott businesses, attend rallies and protests, and support causes you’re passionate about with flags, money, stickers, buttons, or a combination therein.
However, apart from that, being worried about these matters, so far removed from any control you can exert at all, is pointless.
All the worst-case scenarios will lead you down to dark places. War, oppression, economic and social collapse, and possible suffering resulting from each are distressing and upsetting. Give it enough time and attention and what can you do to help it?
The truth is, aside from the aforementioned vote, boycott businesses, attend rallies and protests, and support causes you’re passionate about – there’s nothing more you can do. Worrying about it, and all the “what ifs” associated with it is useless to you.
Before I go further, let’s address the elephant in the room.
Won’t people think I don’t care?
Short answer, no. Long answer – does it matter?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for you not to care. What I am trying to point out here is that what other people think is not as important as you and I make it.
One of the affirmations I recite daily addresses exactly this.
I give my best. I do my best. The thoughts and feelings of others are outside of my control.
Ergo, it really doesn’t matter what people think. You have zero control over anyone else’s thoughts, feelings, intentions, or actions. All you can do is be, give, and do your best. That has little to nothing to do with the big-picture issues of the world.
Worry is a useless emotion. It does nothing but cause distress, anxiety, heartburn, upset stomach, sadness, and other negative feelings. It builds nothing, it gives nothing, and it helps absolutely nobody to worry.
You don’t need to worry to show you care. Given how disempowering worry is, do you think worrying is the same as caring at all? It’s not. So, not worrying about this, that, or the other thing is not indicative of whether or not you care. Time and energy spent on worry is wasted.
You’re limited in what you can do. Thus, worrying about things so far outside of your direct control does you a disservice. How? By distracting you from yourself and what you do and can control.
Worrying distracts you
Submitted for your consideration. When you worry, is it ever about you? Like, do you genuinely worry about and for yourself? In my experience, the answer is no. Worrying tends to be about other people, places, situations, happenings, and things outside of you.
Sure, those things might have an impact on you, which is why they concern you. Yet they are not in your head, heart, or soul. Ergo, they’re outside of your control. Since you can do nothing about them, and have no control over them, worrying about them does you no good.
All that worrying does is start you down a path of doubt, distress, concern, headaches, and numerous other negatives. It does nothing to show you anything useful to or for you. Worrying distracts you.
When you worry, you worry about things you have no control over. Ergo, you neglect those you can and do control. While all you realistically control is your thoughts, feelings, actions, approach, and intentions, that’s everything, really.
You are the only one in your head, heart, and soul. Nobody else can think your thoughts, feel your feelings, choose the angles of your approach, intend your intentions, or act on your actions. These all are yours, and yours alone,
Worrying takes you away from your conscious awareness. It shows you things that can be shiny, concerning, and seemingly important. But it’s all a distraction.
You can’t control the world outside of yourself. Worrying is all about lamenting that lack of control, but offers you no solutions, assistance, or options. Hence, it’s a distraction.
Not worrying is not selfish
Alongside the concern that not worrying might make people think you don’t care, not worrying also doesn’t make you selfish.
Yes, I care about these matters in the world today. This will impact who I vote for, businesses I support and boycott, and causes I support. That’s the extent of my consideration for those things.
Is that selfish of me? No, because there’s not a damned thing I can do apart from the previously mentioned vote, boycott businesses, attend rallies and protests, and/or support causes I’m passionate about.
Worrying distracts you from utilizing active conscious awareness – mindfulness – for choices and decisions. No matter what size they are, you have tons of choices and decisions available to you daily for how you live your life.
Worrying is a choice. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but it is. It is not the natural state of human beings to worry. Concern is different from worry in that it’s direct and to the point. Worry lingers and holds on, where concern acknowledges but moves on.
Not worrying is not selfish. In fact, it’s a matter of self-care. When you actively stop worrying about this, that, and the other thing, you can practice greater conscious awareness. Via mindfulness, you can drive your life experience less distracted and with greater intent.
If you don’t believe me when I suggest how empowering not worrying is, allow me to challenge you.
Proof for the skeptical
For the next 48 hours, pay attention to things that worry you. Big or small, personal or global, note what makes you feel worried. When you find yourself worrying about those things, don’t just leave it in the background. Pay attention to it.
Is there anything at all you can do about it? If the answer is yes, then do it and actively pay attention when you start worrying about it to redirect and stop the worry. If the answer is no, actively pay attention when you start worrying about it to redirect and stop the worry.
Either way, recognize when you’re worrying and act to end your worry in whatever way you can. Journal about it. Watch something that makes you laugh. Meditate on it. Pause, reflect, and imagine it as a balloon floating away.
After two days of this, address yourself. How do you feel? Are you giving attention and energy to worrying about things you have no control over, or other matters you do and can control? Do you feel lighter with fewer worries or heavier? Does letting go of worrying make you feel empowered at all?
If this doesn’t impact you after 48 hours, extend it out for a few more days. If it does impact you positively, consider extending it out indefinitely.
You’re the only one in your head, heart, and soul. Empowerment comes from within rather than from without. Worrying is external and disempowering. This will show you that.
It is not easy to stop worrying. And sometimes, you’ll find yourself worrying because it’s tied to fear, and that’s more natural. However, you can change your state, change your position, and decide to stop worrying about this, that, or the other thing. Apply conscious awareness as needed.
Can you see how and why maybe you should stop worrying about that?
This is the six-hundred fifty-second (652) exploration of my Pathwalking philosophy. These weekly essays are my ideas for – and experiences with – applying mindfulness and positivity to walk along a chosen path of life to consciously create reality.
I share this journey as part of my desire to make a difference in this world and empower as many people as I can with conscious reality creation.
Thank you for joining me. Feel free to re-post and share this.
The first year of Pathwalking, including expanded ideas, is available here. Check out Amazon for my published fiction and nonfiction works.
Follow me here!
