Release Worry Through Trust

“God grant me the grace and endurance to bear cheerfully what I cannot change; courage to fight for what I can change; wisdom to know the difference.” ~Reinhold Niebuhr

I admit it.

I’m a worrier. And like all good worriers, I worry most about the things over which I have the least control.

And I teach others how to relax!

Ever since I was a child I’ve had a high strung temperament. I accept it. I’ve worked on lightening up and have made huge strides.

I’m better than I used to be.

In some ways, worry has been a good friend. Worry has taught me how to cover all bases in a situation and to be prepared. It’s helped me to be successful in certain areas of my life. I instinctively anticipate all possible consequences to a situation and make a plan. I take action when necessary.

Everyone has challenges and issues to work on. You may vacillate between living with full trust in the Universe and then become stuck in fears and insecurities.

We all do this.

Your gift to yourself is to acknowledge those fears. Change what you can change. Accept what needs to be accepted. Forgive who needs to be forgiven. And trust that all is as it should be.

This Taoist tale was told to me by a wise friend many years ago. Perhaps you are familiar with it.

One day a farmer’s horse ran away. That evening the farmer’s neighbor came by to express sympathy to the farmer for such bad luck. The farmer responded, “Good luck, bad luck – who knows?” The next day the horse returned bringing along six other wild horses. The neighbor came by congratulating the farmer on such good luck. “Good luck, bad luck – who knows?” said the farmer. The following day the farmer’s son rode one of the wild horses, was thrown and broke his arm. The neighbor returns to lament such bad luck. The farmer replies, “Good luck, bad luck – who knows?” The next day officers from the army come to enlist the young men of the village but rejected the farmer’s son because of his broken arm. The neighbor returns to say what good luck that was. The farmer responds, “Good luck, bad luck – who knows?”

With whatever challenges you’re currently facing in your life, be as the wise farmer in the tale above.

Good luck, bad luck – who really knows?

(Photo: Aaron Burden on Unsplash.)