Worry, Fear, and Dream

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow,

it empties today of its strength.

Corrie ten Boom

Clippings from My Notebook

Several years ago, I was the Executive Director and Founder of a private counseling agency, OPEN DOORS.  The staff addressed a variety of issues with children and their family, and individual counseling as well. 

 

During this time, my primary focus was on enhancing the strengths of women.  I offered numerous presentations, small groups, and circles of women.  We discussed spiritual books, dreams, personal challenges, and ways to strengthen our spirit in order to better direct our lives.

 

While offering resources to women, I began to realize that worry and fear were predominant distractions from living a happier and fuller life.  Fear and worry used up too much of their energy, with very little remaining to make healthy choices or to self-nurture. 

 

Some where along the way, I came across the idea of placing fear and worry outside of the self.  Discussing this idea with other women, we decided to use a jar with slips of paper to record our worry or fear.  We would place the paper into the jar and leave it there for a weak.  You could have several jars or boxes, but one would do.

 

All week, whenever a person caught themselves worrying about something, they would immediately write it down and place it in the jar.  If fear was creeping in, the same procedure was followed.  By placing these illusions outside of our selves, we had more energy to deal with the day and build our strength.

 

At the end of the week, we would empty the jar, and take a few minutes to read each slip of paper.  The amazing realization was worries eventually worked themselves out and fears rarely came to pass.  It was obvious then how much time we allow worry and fear to rob us of our time and energy.    Women continued to use their jar until placing worry and fear outside of themselves developed into a healthy habit.

 

Some of the women decorated their jars or boxes and kept them in sacred places.  Others just kept an old Mason jar in their kitchen where it remained mindful.  This process of minimizing unnecessary emotions or thoughts gave us an awareness of how we all have choice.  Without worry or fear, we have better vision of how to make healthy decisions.  We had more energy to follow through and adequate time for self-nurturing.

 

This is a simple gesture appropriate for any age or gender.  It requires little effort, minimal tools, and amazing results.  This is a great idea to pass on to others as well.  Gift a jar to a worry-wort friend or a fearful child.  We can decorate it our selves or bring supplies for them to personalize it.  The best part is the end result, realizing what we worry or fear the most, generally doesn't come true at all.