Why Worry
Worry is a self‑inflicted subtle pain in the mind of man. It is the result of unfulfilled desire for satisfying some whim or fantasy. Worry buffets its victims between hope and despair; they drift like rudderless boats on rough, stormy seas. In most cases, worrying is a barren exercise, a futile struggle with oneself.
Worry reveals lack of faith in God and in our own divine essence. Swami says, “A person with faith in God overcomes obstacles much more easily than one who has no faith.” Human beings have the precious gift of the higher spiritual nature, which ensures peace and joy. A man may be poor and unable to live in comfort, but he can have more peace and joy than others who are busy collecting worldly goods. Swami says, “If you live on the body level and for yourself alone, you will be entangled in food, frolic and fun, hate, envy, and greed. Forget it, ignore it, and overcome it. Then you will have peace, joy, and calm. On the spiritual path, every milestone is a monument of victory.”
When worry disturbs us, the best antidote is prayer. Swami says, “Have faith in the Lord and in His abounding grace. Try to earn it by using the intelligence He has endowed you with and by responding positively to the voice of God, the conscience within.” Prayers can either be silent pleading, meditation, singing aloud on His glory and mercy, or repetition of His name with or without a rosary. Prayer can quiet or tranquilize fragile emotions, restore nerves to normalcy, and vitalize faith in the Lord. Swami says, “Constant dwelling on the name of the Lord gives unshakeable peace, which can boldly comfort the ups and downs of life.”
When one is always engaged in problems of self‑aggrandizement, one has to suffer perpetual worry—so it is better to use the time one can spare and the skills one possesses for serving others, for jana seva [service to mankind]. Let the mind be occupied with the welfare of someone else. Visit someone less lucky; cheer him with words of comfort. Write letters to friends or relations. Avoid all negative thoughts. The worry will soon fade out.
Swami says that we can master and maneuver our brains by means of hard work and self-discipline, and escape from worry. Analyze calmly the situation that causes worry, and discover that worry will not help in defusing it. “Face the issue—the devil—boldly,” says Swami. When the problem overwhelms us, we can surrender it to the Lord. Swami has said, “A person with faith in God can overcome obstacles much more easily than one who has no faith.” Let Him be our first and last refuge.
~H. S. Rastogi, Moreno Valley, U.S.A.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Feb. 1987
