Worry Is A Waste

Jesus 'nails it' in Matthew 6:27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27) It’s fascinating: literally the image in this verse is of someone straining and stretching on tip-toe, in front of a mirror, trying to increase his or her physical height by sheer will-power. How ridiculous! But that’s exactly what worry is: it’s ridiculous! All that fussing, all that effort, all that ‘tip-toe anxiety,’ without any guarantee of tangible, positive outcome.

Such use of energy is especially tragic, since most of what we worry about either never occurs – is inconsequential – or beyond our control. Various studies confirm this, including a recent study by Cindy Holbrook. Why Cindy concludes: 40% of our worries never materialize. 30% have already happened. 12% are needless worries, such as what people think of us. 10% are petty, such as what to fix for dinner. And so, only 8% of our worries actually take place. But of that percentage 4% are things we can do nothing about, such as death, or an impending natural disaster. And the remaining 4%? Why the majority of those can be conquered by positive, pro-active, decisive action.

As you might recall, the flight of Apollo 13 almost ended ended in disaster. I mean after a devastating explosion – Apollo 13’s electrical system drained – its oxygen supply dried up – as Apollo 13 plunged helplessly toward the moon. Quizzing Apollo 13’s commander, Jim Lovell, after the disaster -- reporters asked whether Lovell was worried. Worried, Lovell said. Who had time to worry? Listen fellas, “I was too busy fixing the problem!!”

Are you fixing the problem, your concerns, your fears? 4% of your worries are legitimate. But good news: the majority of those concerns can be addressed through positive, proactive action. So stay positive, stay proactive, re-directing your energy away from worry, toward work. Work that can be done to successfully address your concerns.