Too Many Grocery Carts in the Rack

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Thankfully our days are created in twenty-four-hour segments. If they were any longer, we might not be able to handle all of it because there are only so many problems and pressures to deal with before we collapse and need rest. A continual repeat of this kind of craziness will destroy our hopes and dreams. Of course, there are certain times when we wish we had more hours in the day just to get all the things on our To-Do lists done. But that is much like driving on one of those round-about traffic circles and not being able to get into the correct lane to get off!

There are thousands of things we constantly worry about without stopping. The car breaks down on the way home from getting groceries and everything melts, the hairdresser cuts our hair too short, the coffee maker decides it doesn’t want to make our morning brew when we need it, and the boss just announces we need to work overtime while we are walking out the door to go home to the kids, we can’t find our favorite blouse to wear to a job interview, and it goes on and on and on and. . . The trouble with all this commotion is the worries just stack together one upon the other from day to day like too many grocery carts in a rack. They get stuck together and it’s hard to release them. Today we are still worrying about all the things we didn’t tackle yesterday. Add that to today’s problems, plus start stressing over tomorrow’s fears, and “bingo” we have a major breakdown in the making.

The good news is we always have a choice to get into the correct lane. We can choose a different way to handle our daily anxieties and stop our nagging minds from calling out for attention. Worry is a habit we constantly entertain. It has almost become a cultural, inborn trait that creates a crisis when a solution is available if we only slow down and breathe, so we can think clearly. The constant adrenaline causes our nerves to tighten into knots, finally resulting in enough pain that we deeply desire a visit to the massage therapist.

Actually, our new lives can continue to improve if, with determination, we choose to find an answer to the anxieties that plague us. Those nervous “butterflies” in our stomachs are annoying and, instead of helping us to get things done as we might think, worry distracts us from accomplishing what we intend to do in the first place. Our focus becomes blurry. Our head starts swimming. Ever feel that way? 

We are not saying there will never be anything in our lives to care about again. Of course, there will be. But there is a difference between worry--which solves nothing and keeps us on that never-ending roundabout--and concern, which involves us in the solution of a problem. Concern causes us to be troubled enough to get up and do something about it. 

How do we begin to change the pattern? First, we have to understand many of the worries we have are human-made. We load our twenty-four-hour days with thirty-six hours of things to do. It’s impossible to keep up that pace! We get in a rush and cause accidents both at home and in public. We chase after more money and more things to keep up with the neighbors. We get in the way of the lives of others, instead of taking care of our quandaries. We need a plan. How about these:

• Prioritize daily to-do lists: A) urgent/most important; B) need to get done ASAP; or C) least important/back burner. Handle only one activity at a time! Well done!
• Plan appointments allowing enough time for each. A good way to do this is to work backward from the time of the appointment. Calculate how long it takes to get there (use a map app to make it easy), how long it takes to shower and dress. Don’t pile appointments and meetings up like wooden blocks. Blocks tend to tumble over like a Jenga game. It’s okay to say “No” when necessary!
• Pare back your home by clearing out trash, knick-knacks, and clothes that haven’t been worn in over two years; use an old-school monthly budget on paper just to see exactly where the money goes; and finally, create a special, unique space just for personal work or hobbies.

Tip of the Day

We have one perfect cure for all our worries and that is God himself. He already has a plan for our lives but waits for us to stop stressing and trust him; we love that: stop and trust! 

Just know He is not going to force Himself on us. For every single problem we face, God has the solution. It’s found in the Bible, His special message to us. This is how He communicates with us. All we need to be concerned about is caring for our inner souls (i.e., connecting with God every day).  

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

[photo by pixabay.com images]