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  1. I haven’t heard that quote before however, I really like it. Our pastor said that worry is a sign you’re not trusting God. Both are effective I believe.

  2. Great quote, thank you for sharing. I know the concept but it’s nice to hear it expressed so succinctly. Great timing too – I shall go off to rehearsal and not worry about forgetting my lines.

  3. I had not heard the quote before nor had I ever stopped to ponder the idea as simple as I DONT WANT TO GET SICK (all my officemates have colds right now) though over and over again and then I GET SICK.

    Good point about the shift to I WANT TO STAY WELL.

  4. I have heard it in the same way as Denise. That worrying is a lack of faith which is practically the same thing.

    Too much Monday morning thought for my weary head.

    Time for more coffee 🙂

  5. I have heard the quote before and I personally don’t believe in worrying. As much as possible I just don’t allow myself to worry. I think it’s such a waste of emotion and energy above anything else. My MIL is the biggest worrier on the planet and it drives me insane. I think it’s so sad that so much of her life is dedicated to worrying about things that will probably never happen and even if they do happen how did worrying help!!?!?

    I’m not altogether sure on worrying attracting the bad stuff but whatever the case I’m 100% certain that worrying cannot prevent the bad stuff or control it so why bother!!!! Of course I’m human so I’m not totally immune but if I catch myself worrying every now and then I have very stern words with myself!

    I do sometimes wonder if is there some/any benefit to worry though? Is it part of our nature, did we evolve this way? Does it allow us to prepare better for emergency situations perhaps? Just a few thoughts.

  6. I know for me sometimes worrying can be good. I’m not so much praying for the negative as staying vigilant about what could happen.

    However my sister worries all the time and it has become her personality.

    She is fearful of all things.

    It is like you always say: everything in moderation is ok and I think worrying is no different.

    Good video, Miz!

  7. I actually have heard this quote before and I pondered it for quite some time, trying to differentiate between worry and concern. One is helpful, one isn’t. I later heard another great quote: A worried person sees a problem; a concerned person solves a problem.

    For years I worried that I would fail at losing weight, and I did. When I became concerned about my health and the advancing calendar pages, I approached the problem differently and I was successful. The mind is a beautiful thing.

    Have a fantastic week!

    (P.S. I almost did worry this week for MM, which would have been a lovely one-two punch. :))

  8. Miz,
    This quote is new to me…

    Worry is like praying for something you don’t want…

    I do believe in what we focus on expands – and I think that fits very well with what you’re saying today about worry. I tend to try and look at it in terms of good and bad and our basic thoughts. I really like this angle, though, about worry – because is indeed our thoughts in our head – manifesting within us…

  9. Crazylady? GREAT INSIGHT and question.

    IMO worrying can serve a purpose when done in moderation (wink):

    *when we turn the frettage into problem solving & it sparks us to focus on solution finding and not get stuck in the “praying for what we dont want rut”

    *when it sparks us to STOP and focus on success (turn the worry insideout and not mull failure). TO revisit PAST SUCCESSES as a way to lessen our fear of whatever it is.

    *when it causes us to–as I call it— DOCTOR PHIL OURSELVES (“whats the worst that can happen? and what will REALLY HAPPEN should that occur?).

    *when it causes us (ok me) to face the fear and see if there isnt a deeeeeply hidden positive inside there. that even SHOULD my worst fears occur there is indeed a tiny upside!

    just a few rambly thumbtyped thoughts by way of saying YES

    I do agree

    some worrying
    some fear
    CAN BE PRODUCTIVE if we harness it and use it to spur us on to healthy productive **action**

  10. Great quote. I need to focus on stopping all the worrying I do. I think the largest things I fret about are spending money on unnecessary purchases, not getting my workouts in, not having enough time to get everything done (don’t we all worry about this?), and about worrying too much haha. Maybe the journaling would help me out?

  11. Love the “worry” vs “concern” distinction! I know some folks who were such believers in the laws of attraction they went and spent money they didn’t have, and generally made tons of irresponsible decisions because they believed that WANTING financial success and BELIEVING in themselves was the answer to everything and the rest would take care of itself. They were so good at NOT worrying they went from relatively well off to bankrupt. So I think in their case, a little “concern” would have been helpful!

    On the other hand, worrying about things, but not doing anything proactive to prepare or strategize about life’s inevitable setbacks, is just a stress magnet. Concern + action is a much better formula than worry + inaction.

  12. Uh oh.
    Are you talking to me?? 🙂

    I have been worrying a great deal lately about not finding a job in this economy.

    There are so many new graduates out there looking along side me.

    I like the idea that I am praying for the outcome I do not want but now I need to figure out how to make the outcome I want HAPPEN!!

  13. Yes, I had heard it and I think it absolutely is about attracting what you don’t want. Its almost as if spending all that energy worrying about something keeps a “shield” or “veil” around you that the positive or what you DO want can’t get through.

  14. I hadn’t heard this, but for me, worry is counter productive to achieving my goals, and when I worry, I feel like my faith in God is lacking.

    I try to take each day as a gift, and prepare for the future without worrying what will come.

  15. Great quote. I have heard variations. I can just do my best, be grateful, and try to think about others instead of myself. Worry is a form of selfishness and pride, and the illusion that you have control. If I am constantly worried about what happens to me, and am unable to think about someone else.
    At least for me it, cause what I worry about usually has something to do with ME. I hope that doesn’t sound too selfish…lol
    I think that’s why they stess gratiude to much in the Law of Attraction….it distracts your worried self. Plus it makes room for future blessings.

  16. Interesting Monday thought.

    I tend to worry a great deal about family members health & well being.

    It was like a splash of frigid water seeing you say that I’m potentially praying for what I don’t want to occur.

    I need to think about this concept a bit.

    Kim

  17. I think, most of the time, I’m pretty good at focusing on what I want and hoping for it. My biggest fear/worry is something bad happening to my kids, so I will just have to make sure to focus on all of the good things I want to happen to and for them.

  18. I used to worry so much, I still do worry about a number of things.

    For the most part though, it’s a worst-case scenario. I figure that if I prepare for the worst, if/when that doesn’t happen, I’ll be okay.

    It also used to be that I’d make the worst-case for everything. Now, I just do it for some things, and with people/situations that have proved to me that hoping for the best case leaves me bitter, hurt, etc.

  19. I have not heard that quote, but I go with something to the effect of “letting it take up space in your brain” – as in “why would you let XYZ hold your brain hostage?”…that said, it’s hard sometimes to get those thoughts OUT of my head! Lately it’s been “am I going to have another gallbladder attack and end up in emergency surgery?” – trying NOT to think about it (and possibly bring one on).

  20. i haven’t heard that quote before, but after reading “the secret” i’ve really made a conscious effort to pray for the things i want to happen, rather than praying for things not to. it’s difficult to reverse the way you think, but by turning it into positive thoughts, i feel like it makes you more apt to work towards whatever you’re praying for and to stop worrying so much about those things that are out of your hands.
    great post, miz 😀
    have a wonderful day!

  22. I think the first time I heard the quote was from you. I think it’s pretty good, and I should probably think about it more often.

    I was just thinking, there is also the quote “When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” At first glance it appears to be in contradiction to the worrying quote (at least to me), but I think this gives you a way out of the worry. Don’t worry about it, be proactive. To tie it back to spirituality, there’s the old saying “God helps those who help themselves”. Of course me being a non-religious heathen, I could be wrong 😀

  23. I am, by nature, a worry wart. I think it started as self-preservation, as in, “If I concern myself/prepare for the worst-case scenario, it won’t happen.” Part magical thinking, part emergency preparedness.

    But the worry multiplies exponentially. Left unchecked, it takes over your mind before you’ve even realized what’s happened.

    I’ve worried about my weight for years. Maybe it’s time I stopped.

    The times I’ve had weight loss success, I don’t remember WORRYING about it…probably because I was actively DOING something about it, so I didn’t have to passively WORRY.

    Wow, Miz…thanks for the A-ha Moment!

  24. I do as you mentioned in your comment, MizFit.

    When I begin to worry about failing I look back at my past successes as a reminder I can succeed!!

    (What’s EPL?)

  25. It is difficult NOT to worry at least a little bit about things, but when you let it take over your life, it can certainly become a problem. It is such a fine line between concern and worry.

    Love the phrase though, and shall try to remember it.

  26. I am such a worrier!!! I’m always fretting over things in the future, stressing about all the things I have to do. All the women in my family are like that and I really need to learn to chill out so I don’t end up with the health problems they have as a result of their worrying! (high blood pressure, anxiety, angina)

    I think a lot of my worrying comes from my excessive procrastinating. Instead of just doing things, I worry about doing them. I’m going to start working on that… right now!! Thanks for the eye opener 🙂

    P.S. As someone who’s worked in television, you have an awesome on-screen presence. You were made for videos! 🙂 *blushes* thanks for your kind words

  27. That’s a great topic. I tend to worry about everything. Mostly fears that I’m not good enough or people (and doggies) will be taken from me. The worst is worrying about school and stuff I need to get done. It’s bad enough that it prevents them from getting done sometimes! Go figure, right? Lately I’ve been going to my “zen” place, an dtrying to keep it down. It’s difficult though!

  28. Great post! (As always). I swear you’re like my free therapist. Seriously, I worry so much. And I know it’s not good for me and it’s not productive. So then I worry about worrying. Quite honestly, the only thing that has markedly taken down my anxiety is… medication. Talk therapy helps too. I know, I know, you’ll send me the bill;)

  29. Oh I have been doing this and didn’t even realize it! I tend to think that when I worry about something, I am just preparing my mind and body for some of the feelings I would have if ever put in that situation, but I admit that sometimes I let it consume me. And I am NOT a typical worrier! Whatever will be will be. But I do like this thought and will have to take it with me this week!

  30. I don’t believe in that particular “law of attraction”. Maybe if you’re worrying about something bad and it happens, it’s because it was going to happen anyway. Certainly, people who DON’T worry still have bad things happen, and it rather becomes like blaming the victim.

    I’m really firmly against a lot of these philosophies just for that reason. I mean things like job loss, illness, death in the family, etc are devastating enough without saying to someone “Maybe if you had not worried about it, maybe if you were in tune with the universe/ maybe if you had enough faith… it wouldn’t have happened.”

    I think a lot of this comes out of our FEEL GOOD society, one that has been trained to believe that anything uncomfortable emotionally is not good for us, but anger, fear, grief, and worry are valid emotional reactions to our environment, and should be heeded.

    Uncomfortable feelings are a call to action. Worried about your health? Call a doctor. Eat better. Exercise. Take your medication. Afraid of losing your job? Prepare a resume. Start looking for alternatives. Go to a career seminar. Take some classes.

    People who choose not to deal with the negatives set themselves up for failure. They make themselves victims by ignoring the warning signs and walking into whatever situation blindly.

    In an earlier comment, FLG quoted “When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” I have to agree. But I don’t think preparation necessarily eliminates all worry, but once you are confident you have prepared sufficiently, some of that worry can be eliminated.

    There is NEVER a situation you can do NOTHING about. It may not prevent what’s going to happen, but you can always find ways to ease your way or the way of others.

    I also don’t believe in the “Jesus, take the wheel” approach. Just think of what the highway would look like at rush hour if everyone did that, literally. I think that extends to all aspects of our lives.

  31. Never heard the quote before but I like it. I do feel that we can almost will something into a reality by focusing on it. Nothing magical but we almost gravitate to what we fixate on.
    I hate worrying and yet I do it sometimes. I realize that worrying about something will not change the situation. I try to focus on the positive or look for an action plan on whatever I am obsessing about at the moment.

  32. I have not ever heard this saying before.

    I agree worry does not do any good. I try to apply the principle her to my life…

    (Matthew 6:28-32) Also, on the matter of clothing, why are YOU anxious? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they are growing; they do not toil, nor do they spin; 29 but I say to YOU that not even Sol´o?mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. 30 If, now, God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe YOU, YOU with little faith? 31 So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ 32 For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things.

    So where as I work hard and try to do the best I can with what I have, to worry just will not do any good. It cannot help change anything and it ultimately just hurts my health and happiness.

  33. Good question. I try really hard not to fret over things. I know that by doing so I’m calling them in to my life, but it’s so difficult. Money is by far my biggest challenge in that. I get really worried/frustrated that we’re not saving more and then I get in the cycle of “how will we ever save” and this and that.

    Thankfully I have a really positive hubby!

    Enjoy your day (and that fried bullmastiff lol).

  34. ADORE READING ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS ON THIS.
    Ive debated and talked about it (mostly this past weekend) with friends and it seems we all approach so differently.

  35. It is always that moderation idea for me.

    I have to worry or I wont get off my butt and DO anything yet if I worry too too much I become paralyzed.

  36. I’ve heard this or versions of it. You call to you what you dwell on. The Universe tends to skip over the “don’twant” bits and focus on what it hears. Keep your wishes positive.

  37. I’ve heard it before but it is a good reminder, as always. You know, I am not a big worrier at all (fretting about the future). I AM, however, prone to REGRETTING (fretting about the past). I feel often very optimistic about the future, or at least open to the possibility of good things happening, but I feel less rosy about the past. Which I am sure is just as helpful (ie, not at all).

    Thanks again for a great reminder of what is important.

  38. As a quote collector this is a new one for me. I often use the phrase, “Don’t borrow trouble” when trying to deflect any worries my teen has. I should follow my own advice as I have been a nervous Nellie most of my life. I usually turn to the Serenity Prayer to bring myself back to earth as distinguishing between what can and cannot be changed alleviates much of this worry.

    Great post. Looking forward to more.

  39. Hadn’t heard that quote before but I really like it- and love what Crazylady said about this. I used to be a HUGE worrier, but now I don’t worry so much. I figure that worrying really is just a waste of time and energy. Instead of worrying, I prepare myself for things to go wrong by imagining the worst case scenario. Once I’ve done that, I know that the worst case is REALLY unlikely to happen, and so there’s no point in worrying at all- but I’m still prepared for any possible outcomes.

    …I think that this perspective is what comes from being a police officer’s daughter 🙂

  40. (Is EPL Eat Pray Love?)

    I love this idea and quote.

    I, too, am one who collects quotes which remind me to live the life I have chosen and this is a great one.

    Before I got on my current enlightened path I worried a great deal and can vouch for the fact I attracted what I prayed for and it wasn’t good.

    Fantastic video.

  41. Can’t watch the video because I’m at work. But I have fought the “worry bug” a lot. I try to shoo it away anytime it appears now, but I do often worry that my mom thinks I am an incompetent mother (especially as my three-year-old son just hit a rough tantrum patch). It’s good to have a reminder to watch out for that “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

  42. I’ve not heard that exact quote, but I’ve heard the concept -again in the line of the Law of Attraction. I think Christine Kane mentioned it. (do you read her?)

    One thing I fret about -and must now stop completely- is the fear that I will be like my mother and grandmother and get Alzheimer’s disease in my 60s. Definitely do not want to attract that to me.

  43. I dont read C.K.
    off to find her as you and I are so frequently drawn to the same books/ideas.

    thanks deb.

  44. Miz, I really love this video. I am such a worry wort. It’s really so pointless, but I swear it’s in my genes. I worry about my family, my friends, my health, and the world in general. I have never heard that quote before, but it really speaks to me and I have a feeling it will stick with me, too.

  45. I ruminate on all things “ex”. He is the source of my greatest stress.

    Stress makes me emotionally crazy.

    Emotionally crazy=eat.

    Then I gain weight which I fret about all the time, cuz I don’t want to continue doing a yo-yo dance with myself..and the fretting about it makes me emotionally crazy.

    Emotionally crazy=eat.

    viscious circle.

    I heard/saw this quote here first and loved it. I needed the reminder.

    Thanks.

  46. As a few others have pointed out for me a little worrying is good and a lot can be debilitating.

    Although I wouldn’t call it worrying (I agree with you on the attraction) its more AWARENESS which motivates and worry which causes me to freeze.

  47. I’ve not heard this precise quote but plenty along those lines such as “What you fear, you create.” I tend to do the worry thing a lot.. far too much. I need to learn how to turn the negative voice off. Click!

  49. Failure. That’s what I worry about, in a nutshell. Only it’s more like all-consuming terror. And yes, the more freaked-out I am, the more likely I am to fail. Currently I’m having a weight-loss fail, and I think a lot of it is due to exactly that fear/worry/whatever.

  50. Hmm. I will now commence to add the follow to my worry list:

    OMG – what if I lose all this weight?
    OH NO! My house is going to stay clean!
    Holy crap – what if I have time to exercise?
    My children…they LISTEN to me! Now what???

    I like it…

  51. I think my philosophy on the subject is similar to that of Cammy (comment #7) and FabKate (comment #30 – I didn’t buy that aspect of the “law of attraction,” either, although I can see why one might extrapolate that from the power of positive thinking, which I do think is highly effective).

    Of course, that said, sure, there are times when I catch myself worrying about stuff and then think of how to rephrase the worry as a positive thought. I also try to figure out what I’m afraid of and what I can do to address those fears. Which works pretty well with worries about me, but when it comes to my concerns about my kids, I still find myself second-guessing: Is this going to work? Is it too late to do something about this? Should I have acted sooner? You get the idea.

  53. I am such a worrier that I worry about worrying too much. I’ve really been trying to fight it recently, and this quote was timely for me. Thanks, Miz!

    One mantra that I repeat to myself is, “Worry robs me of my joy and God of His glory.” It’s a no-win situation!

  54. Of course, that said, sure, there are times when I catch myself worrying about stuff and then think of how to rephrase the worry as a positive thought. I also try to figure out what I’m afraid of and what I can do to address those fears.

    That’s entirely me as well.
    especially the “how can I address these fears?”

  55. Marianne – I love it. I’m going to add some of those to my list too. 🙂

    I’ve been a bit of a worrywart in the last week, which is weird, because I usually let things just roll off my back. I think it’s about time to start running again – a week off did my body good but my mind is going nuts!

  56. I have heard the quote & I am not sure how much I believe in it .. I do think what Cammy & Crabby have to say is a nice distinction. I am a worrier & I know that about myself. I worry about money like many others these days but I don’t wish to not have any & I am not trying to not have any so I think the quote may apply to certain things & not others depending on the person & how they deal with life in general.

    As Cammy wrote, I need to be less worried & more concerned so I solve the problem.

    Thx as always for making us think!

  57. I’ve tried to embrace this idea but I just can’t seem to turn the worry off. Even when I was a child I always believed that if I thought of the worst thing that could happen it would keep it from happening and then even if it did happen I would be prepared for it. But I guess that just goes to show what a messed up little world I grew up in now doesn’t it?

  58. Sorry, I don’t have sound and can’t watch the vid right now 🙁 but based off others’ comments, I’ll contribute and hopefully this remains relevant:

    I think stress, and worry, and anxiety, etc. are good when they’re on the short-term. They make us sharper, faster, more efficient, better prepared and more productive (both in non human animals as they escape predators as well as for humans in their everyday life) etc. It’s just when the stress is ALWAYS THERE (when it turns chronic) and your body is constantnly secreting extra adrenaline and cortisol that it takes a toll. Haha.

    I think I tend to worry pretty constantly about what others think of me — not so much how i look, but what I say/how I act — moreso than most people. I tend to be pretty guarded around people, even people i know fairly well. I think it’s just my introspective, solitary nature. 🙂

  59. What a great quote. I have not heard it before. I have never thought of it that way. I suppose that in the past my biggest worry was my health. Fortunately, I think that is turning around.

  60. I’ve heard it but am also happy for the reminder. I am not normally much of a worrier, but I do have my moments. When growing up, if I was worried about something, my parents would say, “OK, let’s sit together and worry about it (or cry about it or get mad about it) and see if that helps.” I got the message eventually. 🙂

  61. I used to be a constant worrier. My husband, on the other hand, never seemed to worry about anything. His philosophy? If he could do something about it he would. If he couldn’t do anything about it, there was no use worrying about it. I’ve learned not to worry so much from him.

  62. I don’t spend too much time worrying. There are too many things to worry about – I’d be exhausted and boring. 😉 What time would I have left to live?

    I have heard that quote though.

    From the book, “Dancing in Limbo:
    “The mind can influence the body, and vice versa. But the mind cannot create cancer [illness] nor can it cure it.”

    There are people who believe we attract illness but how do you explain a baby born with illness under the law of attraction? (I have heard The Hicks & Abraham talk about this.)

  63. I think whatever is going to happen is going to happen. There are some things that no matter what I do are just going to be dealt into my life.

    But, I also believe that if you go looking for something hard enough, you’re going to find it. That applies to positive as well as negative.

    I think some worries are just normal. How can we not in these times worry a little?

  65. I’ve never heard the thought you expressed worded the way you said it~ but the concept it is attached to is one that I would say is one of those universal truths.

    My learning is to give up control of what I want to happen at a set time. I set up goals that I think things should happen in (realistic or not) and then I expect things to happen in that time frame. I have had to learn to let go of the driving some of the time and let time handle things. Otherwise, I stew and fret over things and then, I am counter-productive to everything that should be ‘drawn’ to me.

    Being postive that the good will happen is much better than thinking in the negative (even on time-lines) and stopping the postive flow to your life/goals.

    And! Ta daaa! Today is my 45th birthday! 🙂

  66. Have I told you lately that I love you?

    I have NOT heard that quote before. I also believe in the laws of attraction and regularly preach to my family about bring the negative into their lives.

    I have been known to worry and have currently been worrying about my hubby’s job. There is nothing we can do about the situation so there is no reason to worry about it.

    Thanks for giving me a reason to let that worry go.

  67. I agree with you – worrying tends to beget bad things, if only because your attitude changes – you *look* for bad things. You see them where they may not be, and ancticipate them happening. My friend’s mum was like that growing up and she always had a cloud over her life from worrying about so many things. We were constantly warned of the worst case scenario of things…such a downer.
    My Dad was always very positive. He chose to see good things, and you know what? When bad things happened…sometimes they didn’t seem so bad. And they weren’t expected, so it was easier to deal with them somehow.
    My husband worries a lot and seeing how it keys him up and takes his focus away from life I strive to be the opposite to balance things out.
    I don’t know if it works, but *I* feel better 🙂

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