Five Powerful Practices that Eliminate Worrying:

Is it possible to stop worrying for good? We hear everywhere that worry and stress can dramatically affect our health, but we keep on worrying. The mind drama is RELENTLESS!

And the worst part is, worrying is useless! Worrying about things will never change outcomes.

The five practices listed below are extremely powerful to help you calm your mind, have confidence and let go of the need to control outcomes.

1. Trust

This is definitely the most important practice. But, how to stop worrying and start trusting?

Do not judge your “problems” as good or bad.

Have faith that everything happens in your own best interest. Be open to trust that unpleasant events in life, have a reason and a purpose. How many times have we cried without knowing that life was actually doing us a favor?

Remember that not everything is under your control, and that’s okay. You don’t have to know how things will resolve, you just have to trust they will resolve. They always do. Most of the things you worry about never come to happen, and the ones that do happen, turn out to be “just fine”.

It’s not easy at first, it’s a process. A mind-training process. But I promise you, as soon as you stop worrying and instead, fearlessly trust, solutions to problems start to come from unexpected places. Guaranteed!

2. Awareness

Unknowingly, at every single moment, you are making a choice between thoughts that come from love and thoughts that come from fear. Everything in this world is a symbol for one or the other.

Observe your thoughts… Being aware of the kind of thoughts you are choosing is the first step in taking charge of your state of mind and happiness.

I like to think of the Yin & Yang symbol. It has different meanings but for me, it helps me visualize our internal struggle. Two opposite forces, pulling our mind in opposite directions, continuously. Staying aware helps us make the right choice.

3. Stillness

Take a moment and just breathe. Watch that breath as it happens. Be still. Repeat this exercise as often as you can, throughout your day.

Like a tree, root your mind to the present moment. Worries and expectations about the future as well as regrets and resentments from the past, use a lot of our energy and take us nowhere. Instead, a calm mind and trust in this present moment will always guide you in the right direction.

Stillness is the best gift you can give your mind.  

4. Love

All forms of suffering hide unforgiving thoughts. Let’s pour some love into broken situations, specially, the challenging ones. It’s OK to stop carrying grudges. We find peace only by forgiving. 

For-Giving: To be given.

When we manage to give up the need to blame something or someone for our troubles, we are able, almost immediately, to look at things differently. 

If you are going to have challenging relationships, have them from a place of love. From this place, you are able to experience true empathy. You understand that everyone is doing the best they can, with the “tools” they have at any given moment.

5. Gratitude

Remember to feel grateful for this moment, and every moment, throughout the day. Continuous gratitude is extremely, extremely powerful. 

If you are feeling worried, stressed out and fearful, it’s probably because you have forgotten to feel grateful. 

“If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that will suffice.” - Meister Eckart, German theologian.

How to Stop Worrying – The Recipe

I will say it again; worrying is useless! It’s a very bad habit that tends to complicate things. But with determination and discipline, we can get rid of it.

The recipe for a worry-free life is simple. As often as you can and whenever you remember; be in the moment, observe your thoughts, trust fearlessly, give love and feel grateful. 

That’s all you have to do. The truth of the matter is that challenging situations are never the problem, the real problem is how you choose to look at those situations.

“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place” - Lao Tzu