Today, I’m elucidating the anatomy of Worry in contrast with Meditation using this handy dandy visual I made.
Notice the differences.
Worry and Meditation have commonalities.
• Both activities involve circling/cycling, repeated thoughts, but how they circle is very different and give us different outcomes.
(monotheistic) Meditation centers on the good supreme God, and often the One described in the Bible. The love and presence of God energizes the one meditating. Thoughts and cares are kept in close contact with God, not one’s self or self-interests. Prayer, worship, and centering are interrelated with meditation.
In Worry (in Christians or any one) thoughts are repetitive and ingrown, not centered on apart from self and move toward collapse, snuffing out our energy and health. Worry thoughts stay with the self, and do not move outward or around a stabilizing idea or deity. This causes degeneration into a Worry Spiral that undercuts growth, health, and well-being. Other problems may arise like illness, anxiety disorders, depression, paranoia, and much more.
In part 3, I’ll unpack how to move from Worry, which is negative, to Meditation which is peace and life-giving.
Did you read the previous Post? Please read Part 1 of this series where I discuss some common misunderstanding of Worry.
Do you think I got it right? What does Worry and Meditation look like for you?
Please, let me know.
Boy, I can really use this! My 17 year old son has Tourette Syndrome and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the anxiety is spiralling out of control. We have been at our wit’s end trying to help him. The usual meds make him nauseous (we just tried a new one and it is making him sick). I tried taking him to a therapist that specialized in behavioural therapy to control anxiety last week, and the woman was not a good fit. My son came out of there looking like he had seen a ghost. She was very “new-age…connect with your inner power….etc.”. He hated it and actually has a real social phobia about talking with strangers so this is no picnic! I am going to have to try and help him myself…doing my homework and praying. Thanks for sharing.
Sor some reason someone else’s picture came up with my comment! haha
I’m really sorry to hear this, Julie. Perhaps a developmental pediatrician can help you. I live in PA and Dr Ramer in Hershey has been great for my special needs son, trying a few things until we can find something workable. It sure is a long hard road. Puberty does quite a number on them!!! There’s always side effects with meds though…ugh. It sucks.
I hope you’ll let me know how thing go.
I see you understand first hand. Thanks for the support. :) I am way down in the Corpus Christi area and resources are very limited. I drove him to Houston to Texas Children’s neurology and pysch department for several years but we stopped recently. Hard to find help here.