Did you realize WORRY was an acronym? It really is. It stands for When Our Rationalizations Really Yodel!!! Just consider — when we think of a yodel, we think of an echoing, meaningless refrain, repeating in varying vocal levels. That’s very similar to what worry does in our Consciousness! We love what Leo Buscaglia says about worry: “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow. It only saps today of its joy!”

Think about these interesting statistics on worry:

40% are about future things that never happen;

30% concern old decisions which cannot be changed;

12% center in what others are thinking about us;

10% (which seems low to us) focus on our health, which only get worse when we worry;

8% are legitimate, demonstrating that life does have real problems which can be faced head on once we’ve eliminated senseless worries!

So how can we make the switch from worrier to warrior? Here’s a quick 3-step formula that results in the transformation!

Step 1: Realize you are worrying! You can’t transform something until you recognize it for what it is. This means you must become aware of your worry signals. Learn to pay attention to your thoughts. Do regular heart checks to recognize how you are feeling emotionally. Your body will let you know when you are worrying instead of acting.

Once you become aware that you are in the midst of being a worrywart, don’t be hard on yourself!! Simply acknowledge the fact, then move on to step 2.

Step 2: Release the Worry! We know … This sounds (easier|simpler than it is! But take a look at a couple of great techniques:

* Worry Jar: Worry preys on our mind, and keeps us from doing what needs to be done for our growth and development. So we recommend the Worry Jar. Here’s how it works: Find a jar, pitcher, coffee can or other suitable container that has a lid. Label it as your Worry Jar. We invite you to decorate the jar any way you choose. Designate a specific worry time (DWT). This should be the same time every week (for example, Friday night at ten o’clock.) Place your Worry Jar in a conspicuous place and then move on with life as normal.

Throughout the week, every time you find yourself fretting over something - stop! Take a piece of paper and a writing instrument, record your worry, fold the slip of paper and deposit it in your Worry Jar. Reinforce that you are not to worry about whatever is worrying you until your DWT. When it’s time to worry, according to your DWT plan, open the jar and read the worrisome entries. Many of the issues you may have worried so loyally about are history and no longer relevant. Have fun rejoicing over them before you throw them in the trash. Other issues will be pending issues, so go ahead-worry about them for a few minutes. You’ll discover it is difficult to worry on demand! You may even snicker a little. Once you’ve worried sufficiently over your current issues, refold them and redeposit them in the jar, where they’ll be ready for next week’s DWT.

* Meditation: This is the most important technique. Once you’ve been through the Worry Jar, spend 20 minutes in the Silence, affirming Divine Substance is bringing you everything you need to resolve them, and you are open and receptive! This is the very best way to gain a sense of inner peace, in which worry cannot exist.

Now comes Step 3: Replace It! We all know that Nature abhors a vacuum. When you release worry, you have created a void, and it must be filled. Otherwise, worry will quickly sneak back in and make a home there (and bring some close friends, like Fear and Panic and Depression, to party with). So make time to consciously replace your worry with something positive. For example, you may want to create a few positive core affirmations that you can repeat over and over, like: Centered in my Oneness with God, I am at peace. Or: I am one with God, and I am Rich, Healthy, Happy and at Peace in all areas of my lifeNOW!

Look at the issue causing you worry, and ask this question: Is there anything at all I can do about this right now? If the answer is no, then you may as well stop worrying, because it is a useless emotion! If the answer is yes, then you may as well stop worrying, and take the actions to do what you can do about it! Either way — stop yodeling and start being a warrior. Oh –did we happen to say that warrior is an acronym, too? It stands for:

When All Responses Reflect Infinite Omnipotent Reality!

In his book, The Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman says of Peaceful Warriors, “We don’t live in an ashram or a commune or seclude ourselves in the mountains. But our values, priorities, and sensibilities are likely different from those of many of our neighbors. It’s nothing specialjust a certain awareness, a lightness, an orientation toward service, and an expanded perspective born of inner work and life experience. And perhaps we display a little less fear, less worry, less resistance.”

So what’s the bottom line?? There is a wonderful Chinese drawing that really holds the secret to it all. It shows two people sharing a pot of tea, and the ancient Chinese writing, loosely translated, says, “Enjoy today Worry tomorrow.” If you follow this advice every day, you will never have a worry!

You have such amazing power within, to transcend all worry and live the life of a Warrior, traveling this Spiritual Path with joy and gusto! You just need to follow the formula of:

* Recognizing Worry;

* Releasing Worry; and

* Replacing Worry!

Another great philosopher proclaimed it in his own unique way ~ Bobby McFerrin: Don’t Worry, Be Happy!