Worry can be exhausting and destructive. But it can also be creative. Which one it will be depends on our attitude toward it and how we use it. In the same sense that fear is courage in the making, worry is wisdom in the making. It seems to threaten us, but it is also trying to help us.
— Lewis Richmond in Work as a Spiritual Practice
Book: Choose Wonder Over Worry by Amber Rae is a guidebook, filled with exercises and journaling prompts, to help you ponder both the usefulness and the drawbacks of worry.
Book: Freeing Yourself from Anxiety by clinical psychologist Tamar Chansky outlines four steps for overcoming worry and discovering the healing powers of empathy, compassion, gratitude, and being present.
Children's Book: When I Feel Worried by Cornelia Maude Spelman is a helpful picture book for all ages. It identifies simple things to do when you are worried like telling someone or starting a creative project. You can listen to a reading of the book here.
Book Excerpt: This excerpt from Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants by Arnie Kozak suggested scheduled worrying, akin to having office hours, and using mindfulness practices to put boundaries around this emotion.
Film: The Village was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, a filmmaker known for films with characters who are worried about one thing or another. This thriller takes place in a remote, self-contained village that has built its foundation and solidarity around fear. One leader stands out for his fearlessness, saying, "I don't worry about what will happen, only what needs to be done."
Spiritual Practice: The One-Minute Body Merge by Raphael Kushner recommends finding our way back to the Now -- and away from the panicky netherworld of worry -- through simple reconnection with our bodies.
21-Day Program: Working with Worry by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat consists of 21 email lessons, available on-demand from our system to do at your own pace. It covers a treasure trove of insights and practices by spiritual teachers from different traditions to help us discover the lessons of worry and how to move through it.