Fireside Chat: On Worry
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.
- James Allan
As it turns out, worry is the most popular form of suicide. When a man worries, he increases his chances of stroke and heart attack. When a man worries, he discounts his future woes, draws them to himself, and accepts present misery. When a man, miserable from mental gymnastics, agrees that those things are out of his control, he begins to understand a few things. He comes to fully understand that if he could spend a whole series of eternities in worry, drowning mala fide, it would not change anything. It is a time for action, not worry, because worry paralyzes both thoughts and deeds simultaneously. If he cannot prevent the results of his fears, he must develop adequate mental concentration to meet them bravely, lighten its force, and plan accordingly. If he can avoid the evil he fears, he does not need to worry, as he would dissipate energy in his hour of need. As it is written in the 8th verse of the Tao te Ching:
Live in accordance with the nature of things:
Build your house on solid ground.
Keep your mind still.
When giving, be kind.
When speaking, be truthful.
When ruling, be just.
When working, be one-pointed.
When acting, remember – timing is everything.
Remember that both people and nations are forged in the fires of adversity. So instead of a crux, allow your adversity to be a tool to sharpen your mind, flaking away the waste of worry.