Worrying about worry is real worry. Otherwise worry is no worry at all. Man is troubled because of what is called as double worry. Say you are troubled over something. And you are also troubled over being troubled. This is what is termed as double worry. Another example could be when the body is in pain. When the body is in pain, the mind is pained over the pain and raises questions such as, “Why do I have pain?” “Why me?” “When will I be relieved of this pain?” etc. Such pain over pain is multifold pain. The body was in pain. The body was being treated. The body is capable of handling and curing the pain. Nature has endowed the body with curative powers. But the mind made the pain as “my” pain and multiplied the pain manifold.
Look at a child in anger. It is angry one moment and playful the next. But when you are in anger, you tend to create ‘anger’ over anger - “Oh, why do I get so angry?” “I shouldn’t get angry.” “I should have controlled it.” “I am frustrated at my lack of self-control.” Even after the bout of anger is over, you tend to think about it for hours together. This is precisely the problem. Thus anger over anger or worry about worry distresses the mind. The more you understand this, the more easily you will be able to get rid of double worry.
Understand that worry has been given to you to get some work done from you. You worry about your forthcoming exams - you study. Thus worry is a guidepost for your future. Learn to grab at the opportunity of being worried. Take appropriate action. Then worrying about worry, fearing fear, tension on tension ceases.
Going forward, whenever you are tensed or worried over something, remember these five steps:1. Accept your tension or worry first.
2. There is no need to be more tensed about being tensed. 'Tension on tension' is the result of ignorance. 3. When there is no tension on tension, getting off tension is fairly simple.
4. Repeat to yourself that now that this tension or worry has arisen, there is something I need to act upon. This action ultimately leads to my growth.
5. Whenever there is tension, it would have left you with a lesson – a lesson of understanding. A lesson that would have taught you the art of being peaceful even while in tension.
Not only can you use the five steps mentioned above for worry or tension, but also for anger and fear.You eat yesterday’s food today
When you go to a restaurant, you do not eat the food actually of the day you have visited the restaurant. It is not that the food is stale. It means that when you visit a restaurant, you think about how good the food was the last time you visited some other restaurant. Thus in your mind, you are eating the food of that other restaurant from your past. Tomorrow when you go to another restaurant, you will actually eat the food that you are eating today.
When you eat, just eat. When you worry, just worry. There is no need to worry about worry, to worry about how you had no worries in the past, or to worry about how you will worry in the future.