How to Stop Worrying
Worry affects all human beings. It is a form of anxiety caused by constantly recurring thoughts about possible disturbing events in the future. It is an expression of the mind slipping out of control, and its consequences are fatigue, confusion, and an inability to live in the present moment.
Nobody wants to worry, but sometimes we think that if we don’t worry, it means we don’t care or that we are ignoring the possibilities of future failure.
Therefore, in order to stop worrying, we must apply a basic philosophical axiom: Know thyself. Above all, we must understand our mind, a part of ourselves about which, we must admit, we don’t know much.
When someone gets a new device, whether it’s a smartphone or a drill, the first thing they do is familiarize themselves with its mechanism, how to handle it, and, most importantly, how to control it.
Unfortunately, it seems that we don’t try to learn to use our mind in the same way. We simply start the engine and let the mind function automatically, thinking that no effort needs to be invested. We exert effort in order to achieve optimal results.
What happens then is that our mind emits random notes instead of the beautiful music it has the potential to create.
Many past civilizations, those that did not direct their efforts towards developing technology but towards understanding the true reality and human beings, believed that the mind is a composite element with different attributes, some positive and some negative. In principle, we can speak of two different aspects of the mind: the lower mind and the higher mind. In esoteric Buddhism, for example, they are called kama-manas (desirous mind) and manas (pure mind).
Worry is an instinctive mechanism of the desirous mind that relates to survival. We worry because of our desires, whether they are desires for something to happen or desires for something not to happen. By nourishing a disturbing thought, we help it multiply until only disturbing thoughts remain, the tyranny of the mind over the body and emotions.
In order to have the lower mind under control, we must activate manas, the higher mind. and its meaning, which comes from the verb elegir – to choose. Based on etymology, intelligence would therefore mean wise discernment. When our intelligence is developed, we can discern between thoughts that help us, that are creative, that are useful to us and others, and those that are driven by desires, selfish, destructive, and unnecessary.
Intelligence also helps us apply the teachings of stoics, especially Epictetus, who advises us to distinguish between what we can control and what we cannot control. It is a useful exercise to review what worries us and consider whether we can change or influence it. If we can, then we should do everything in our power to achieve a positive outcome. Work is often the best remedy for anxiety.
If we cannot change something, then worry is meaningless, simply because it does not help in any way.
When we are consumed by worries, introducing some changes to our environment can help. Distraction, or let’s do something in a different way to divert the troubled mind with something positive and healthy, whether it be a walk in nature, a conversation with a friend on a different topic, a good book, carefully listening to calming music, anything that will allow our mind to rest.
Perhaps we can raise awareness and see things from a new perspective.