This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
I’m sure you’ve all read or heard the phrase, “Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles; it takes away today’s peace.” I’ve heard this phrase a million times, and although I know it’s true, I still have a tendency to worry when certain situations arise.
I know faith and worry can’t share a space in my mind. When I let my faith take control, worries disappear, and when I let worries control me, I stop trusting that everything has a solution. I do my best to always let my faith win the battle and take all the space it needs, but some situations (especially at work) are able to bring me down.
I’m a very positive person; I always try to see the good in every situation I encounter. I also know life is full of ups and downs, and we grow by managing them. I’m still learning to manage my life in a way that keeps me peaceful, but as with every learning process, sometimes I win and at other times I fail. My intention in talking about this subject today is just to send you all a reminder. We have to remember that no amount of worrying, no matter how big our issues are, will solve anything. We have to be the masters of the “worry-less” state of mind.
I’m going to share a quick story with you. If this is your first time reading this blog, or if you haven’t read all the posts and don’t know much about me, let me give you the short version of what I do for a living. I’m the co-founder of the company where I work. I own part of the company, and I’m in charge of all finances and HR. Our company provides cleaning and painting services in the multi-family industry. My job is a little stressful because I have to make sure everyone gets paid on time even when my clients take 60 days (or more) to pay us.
For some reason I still don’t understand even after four years in this business, July is the worst month for collecting money. Because I’ve come to expect this, I do my best to get prepared for the hit. However, this year has been extremely slow. To make a long story short, I had a panic attack a few weeks ago when I didn’t have enough money to pay my employees. I’ve been in this situation before, and I know I always find a way to solve the problem, but a few weeks ago I let my worries take control of me, and I lost it. I cried; I got really angry; I felt desperate. It was horrible. I even told my boyfriend, “I don’t want to do this job anymore.” At the end of the nightmare, we were able to find the money, and everyone got paid on time.
This week, I found myself in the exact same situation, but I decided to confront it in a different way. On Monday morning, I told myself, “Irene, you are the master of worry-less.” I collected some money, but I was still short half of the total payroll amount. So, I sat with my business partner and asked him to help me solve the situation. This time (for the first time ever), I told him, “Hey, it is what it is. We’re doing the best we can.” I think I was so calm that he was able to take the same approach. We were able to find the rest of the money few minutes ago (it’s now Thursday afternoon). The money won’t be available until tomorrow, but I still can pay everyone on Friday like we always do.
This was the same situation with which I’ve dealt in the past, but it was actually even worse because of the amount of money I needed. For the first time ever, though, I decided not to fall into the worry trap and put my mind and body through the stress to which I usually succumb. God is always here for me. He always listens to everything I say. I really don’t need to worry. I wanted to share this with you because maybe you’re worrying about something that will pass and get solved. Don’t fall into the worry trap. It’s very true that worry only takes away today’s peace.
Let’s keep mastering the worry-less state of mind, my friends. Take action with total conviction that everything you are facing will be solved. God is always listening. He already has the solution, and He’s just waiting for you to trust Him.
Love,
Irene
