In life, we need to anticipate the things that may go wrong and prepare for them, either by advance planning or on-the-feet thinking. Thus, in a sense, worrying is a part of life’s job description.
However, worrying is not our whole job. Our existential predicament is that our very existence depends on things that are not in our control. We need to worry about the things that are in our control so that we can do them well. But we also need to let go of the things that are not in our control. If we don’t let go, we cripple ourselves in our capacity to do what we can – when we worry excessively, we subject ourselves to compulsive fearfulness, fretfulness and moroseness. The Bhagavad-gita (18.35) cautions that such habitual negative thinking is a perversion of our determination – it is determination in the mode of ignorance.
Letting go of things becomes easier when we internalize a spiritual worldview. This worldview centers on the two truths: we are at our core indestructible spiritual beings; and everything is ultimately under the control of the supreme, Krishna, who is our greatest well-wisher (05.29). Gita wisdom explains that our life’s essential job description is to live in loving harmony with Krishna. Such harmonious living centers on practicing bhakti-yoga, which trains us in achieving a dynamic and discerning balance of diligence and dependence. We do diligently in a mood of service the things that are in our control, and we entrust to Krishna the things that are not in our control.
When we thus focus on doing our job by practicing bhakti-yoga, we will realize that Krishna is always doing his job – he will, in due course of time, bring the best out of everything for our all-round eternal well-being.
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worry is a slow poison