Last week I put the following quote on my Facebook page:

You cannot worry about someone and love them at the same time. Most people mistake the emotion of worry for the emotion of love. They think that worrying about somebody means that you love them. –Abraham

I resonated with this quote and felt called to go a little deeper, because worry says so much about our lives. Perhaps you do not agree with this quote. It may be easier to see and understand by looking at how worry makes you feel, because in the same way that worry is not loving towards another, it is also, not loving towards yourself. Do not take my word for it, just think back when you were worrying about something or someone. How did it make you feel, stressful, uncomfortable, and maybe anxious? Are these loving feelings? Did you feel wrapped in love or suffering? When we take the time to pay attention to what we are feeling we often get the opportunity to change our lives in very positive ways. Unfortunately, we are usually on autopilot and do not pay attention, we only react.

In addition, when we worry we are telling the Divine that we do not trust its guidance and in the same breath, we have lost our faith. You cannot have faith and worry at the same time. It is impossible and if you do not have faith then you certainly do not trust the Universe to provide the highest outcome. In reality, you feel that you need to control what is happening. Unfortunately, you did not have any control to begin with and the only other option was to worry. This causes needless suffering, unless you can release your desire to control the outcome, other person or situation.

Look, I know things do not always go our way, but haven’t they always worked out? Of course they have, and when we settle into that new place, many times the result is greater than we could have imagined. Therefore, the next time you fall into worry, put the brakes on and take a moment to ask yourself if you want to keep worrying or can you just let go. Letting go is the most loving thing you can do for yourself and everyone involved. Remember to notice your feelings, are they loving or not, because this alone can wake you up.