Gratitude as the Antidote to Worry

Worry has been taking up way too much space in my head lately. I have wasted hours of time being anxious over an ever expanding list of worries that include (but are certainly not limited to):

• consequences of the choices my children have made
• choices my children will make in the future
• choices I have made, am making, and will make
  
• quality of relationships with my husband, children and step-children
• my husband's relationships with my children and his children
  
• finances
• future career plans
• what I am eating or not eating
• how my jeans fit
• why my face is breaking out
• if we should go on vacation
  
• and on and on....

When The Worries come I wish I could just flip a switch that would fill my mind with so much gratitude that it would flush out all anxiety. I do believe this is possible with practice. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie "A Beautiful Mind", which is the story of John Nash's struggle with schizophrenia. He battles with identifying what is real and not real in his life, and eventually realizes that his "visions" are not real. After years of living successfully he is asked if he still sees these visions. He acknowledges that they are still in his mind but says that they are a "diet of the mind in which I choose not to indulge."

Even though the "visions" (i,.e, things to worry about) will always be with me, I want to develop the discipline, like John Nash, not to indulge in the "diet" of worry. I think the key to being successful on this "diet" is to replace the worry with gratitude on a daily (and sometimes hourly) basis.

What is good in my life? What do I have to look forward to? What makes me smile? What good things has God done for me? What promises does God have for my future? Dwell on these things...fill up on gratitude and worry will not have room.