Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind.

A trickle of water that drains down the side of a hill poses no problem to

the hill, its vegetation, or the people living in the valley. But if that

trickle grows into a stream, the water will erode a path, carrying along

plants, rocks, and soil, endangering the lives and property of the people in

the valley.

When a worry nags us, it is like that trickle. It poses little threat to us

and can be stopped at any time because it is so small. But if we let more

worrisome thoughts feed into the stream, we will allow it to grow until all

of our thoughts and energy are focused on one worry that has attained great

power.

We all have things we worry about. But we don't have to give these worries

more than passing acknowledgment. The trickles that run through our minds

are okay to have. But to keep them at that size, we need to remember what is

important to us at this very moment. We don't need to let the worries grow.


I have worries just like everyone else. However, I don't have to dwell upon

my worries or make them any bigger than what they are.