Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
There is a saying in Chinese, "Farmer gets a horse."
It is from a story of a Zen Master and a farmer who gets a new horse.-- it was repeated in the film "Charlie Wilson's War".
A farmer gets a horse.
The people of the village go to the Zen master and proclaim, "What great fortune! This is a good thing."
The Zen master says, "It is not a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It just is."
The villagers are a little perplexed by the master's words.
The next day the farmer's son is riding the horse and is thrown off. He hits the ground and breaks his leg.
The villagers go to the Zen master. "What terrible fortune! How did you know this was a bad thing?"
Again, the Zen master says, "It is not a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It just is."
The next day a local warlord calls up all the young men to go and fight in a battle but the farmer's son can't fight because he has a broken leg.
The villagers again go to the Zen master, "Oh! You were being crafty with us -- you saw that this bad thing was really a good thing!"
Again, the Zen Master only says, "It is not a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It just is."
The villagers are like our own thoughts -- always analyzing, calculating and trying to control. The Zen master's voice is our quiet, without judgment, simply existing.
When I say, "anxiety is a terrible thing!" I am forgetting all the things I have learned and experienced because of anxiety. Some of these have been painful, some have been joyous -- all are lessons for living a more open, more inquisitive life.
A subtle mistake that almost every human makes is to seek out comfort and settle. Those of us who experience anxiety do not have this luxury. A more interesting approach to life is to seek out new experiences and go to the edge of our comfort zones to learn more about who we are and how tick. To participate in the world with sorrow and joy and simply experience our own resilience as humans. We know there is no teacher like experience, whether the lesson is bitter or sweet.
So, anxiety is not bad. Anxiety is not good. Anxiety just is.
It is from a story of a Zen Master and a farmer who gets a new horse.-- it was repeated in the film "Charlie Wilson's War".
A farmer gets a horse.
The people of the village go to the Zen master and proclaim, "What great fortune! This is a good thing."
The Zen master says, "It is not a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It just is."
The villagers are a little perplexed by the master's words.
The next day the farmer's son is riding the horse and is thrown off. He hits the ground and breaks his leg.
The villagers go to the Zen master. "What terrible fortune! How did you know this was a bad thing?"
Again, the Zen master says, "It is not a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It just is."
The next day a local warlord calls up all the young men to go and fight in a battle but the farmer's son can't fight because he has a broken leg.
The villagers again go to the Zen master, "Oh! You were being crafty with us -- you saw that this bad thing was really a good thing!"
Again, the Zen Master only says, "It is not a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It just is."
The villagers are like our own thoughts -- always analyzing, calculating and trying to control. The Zen master's voice is our quiet, without judgment, simply existing.
When I say, "anxiety is a terrible thing!" I am forgetting all the things I have learned and experienced because of anxiety. Some of these have been painful, some have been joyous -- all are lessons for living a more open, more inquisitive life.
A subtle mistake that almost every human makes is to seek out comfort and settle. Those of us who experience anxiety do not have this luxury. A more interesting approach to life is to seek out new experiences and go to the edge of our comfort zones to learn more about who we are and how tick. To participate in the world with sorrow and joy and simply experience our own resilience as humans. We know there is no teacher like experience, whether the lesson is bitter or sweet.
So, anxiety is not bad. Anxiety is not good. Anxiety just is.
I had a sense this was not quite what the world had in store for me ... but such is youth.
Anxiety relieved me of the delusion that I was in control.
Making peace with the world as it is has been the most difficult lesson -- but it is the only lesson worthwhile!
OM!
I have found life is about the small things. We hardly ever do world changing deeds but are capable of small ones daily. Giving a smile or being open with someone less fortunate has so much happiness bundled it that act.
Be present in your life and maybe your mate or friends will appreciate this gift more than any other in life. Small things, the beauty of a flower or a painting or a poem. A quiet time just for you.
Maybe make a difference stay right here totally. maybe it could help