100 Stones in the Worry Bag (Blog)

[Erin Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

100 Stones in the Worry Bag

[Mato Kinze]

Erin,
I liked the idea of the "Worry Stone Bag" quite a bit. I think it's a good way for people to get a handle on beginning to conquer fear.

To me, there is a difference bewtween "worry" and "concern".

Concern is a manifestation of engagement and is a good thing. When you are aware and present to things around you, you see that things can, and/or should be different. That can prompt action. And again, I think that action on issues of concern is a good thing. It can also prompt planning. And planning, if not taken to the point of obsession, is also a good thing.

Worry, on the other hand, is a manifestation of fear and is NOT a good thing. Fear accomplishes nothing and behooves no one.

To your point, there are situations in which it is normal to feel fear. You named a few. But fear is disempowering. Concern, however, is much more empowering.

I've had my daughter in surgery and the prospect of her dying was something that I did not relish. At first, I was terrified. But I realized that my emotions on this issue were irrelevent; especially if I were afraid. If it was her time to go Home, she would. If it wasn't, chances are her Guides and Allies would be there with her. If I was in a state of fear, I would be unable to help her in the only way I could - by praying and sending her every bit of help I could from every spirit ally and Power I'd ever encountered or even heard of.

My worrry changed to concern and that shift empowered me to take action in a way I couldn't have from a position of fear and posession.

So, with all due respect, I disagree that there is a place in this world for worry. Concern? Absolutely, but only from a position of strength free of fear and ready to take action.

The "what-if?" game, as you called it, is also not inherently bad. It's the emotion and intent behind it that is the key. As my mom always says, "Hope for the best, plan for the worst."

Oh, BTW, before anyone asks, my daughter came through her surgery just fine.

[zeroone]

When you allow yourself to live a life of pure love and allow it in your heart, you will know without a doubt that everything will turn out perfectly fine, no matter what. This is how I see it, it is a love so pure (and unexplainable) that I feel I have no worries what-so-ever.

But, I agree with Mato Kinze. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have concerns. If one didn't have any concerns, one would be living a self-destructive life.

Always remember Love.

Edit:
I forgot to ask, what are the stones worth? They are after all just stones. What are their intrinsic value? Why shouldn't I just spend them? (j/k)

[girl678]

This story is missing a key element. What happens when all of the worry stones are depleted?

Without this piece of information, this story has no punch.

[jasminerose]

Most people play the if game to imagine the worst things possible. But.....what if you played it differently?

What if I received a million dollars in the mail...What if Mr. wonderful walked in the door... What if i win the lottery...What if someone gave me new computer....car...house....trip around the world...get the picture? Play it right.

[backpocket]

I think I spent all my stones when I was 12...

[Steve Pavlina]

I'm willing trade my extra worry stones to anyone who can spare some frustration rocks. I'm going through them pretty fast trying to learn chess.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I'm willing trade my extra worry stones to anyone who can spare some frustration rocks. I'm going through them pretty fast trying to learn chess.

Quit trying to win.

Seriously... My dad taught me how to play when I was about eight years old. It never occurred to me that I might ever be able to beat him, so I just played 'cause it was fun and it was something he and I could do together.

By the time I was in High School I was beating just about everybody in the chess club (yes... I was that kind of geek) but still never even considered that I might beat my dad.

I found out later in college that my dad spent just about every night playing chess with a group of Russian immigrants on the cab line at the airport he worked.

To this day, I only beat him about one out of every four or five games and I'm not too bad.