Guest Op-Ed: Worry Rarely Changes Anything

Dr. Glenn Mollette 

Life presents challenges to us all and most of us understand worry. There are enough ordeals along the way of life to cause each of us to worry our heads off. However, worry will never add another day to our lives. Worry will not smooth a wrinkle, dry a tear or eliminate disease, poverty.  It will not keep someone from harm. Worry has never prevented bad news or bad things from happening.  

Worry rarely changes anything except to make us tense. This usually results in sleep loss, nausea, ulcers and chest pain. Who needs any of these? Worry often leads to stress and too much stress is never reported as being good for us. Of course, just daily living creates some stress for us all. We have appointments, jobs, deadlines, life goals and commitments.  Within these there are expectations that bring about daily stress. 

Deep down gnawing worry, fretting and fear doesn’t do us much good. When we are filled with worry and fear all the time it only makes our situation worse. 

Jesus said in Matthew 5:25 to not worry about the needs of this life. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Yet, if we are honest, we’ve all worried about all the above and much more at different times in our lives. 

Let’s try to think more about caution and prevention and doing what we know to do. 

For example, take the Covid-19 vaccination.  It’s free, and it might save your life and the lives of people you love. Why wouldn’t you do it? This is called prevention. You still might get sick but it might save your life. Your family loves you and needs you. Surely, you care enough about them to get this vaccination. 

I know people who haven’t gotten the vaccination and I’m concerned. However, I’m encouraging them to go and get the shot. This is something I can do. I can talk to them, fuss and gripe. Lying awake all night worrying about it will not change anything. 

Eat right, exercise, take your vitamins, go to the doctor regularly and do what your doctor says to do. Worrying about your health, will not make you healthy.

Stop worrying about money. Worrying about money will not make you richer. Go to work. Figure out some way to make a little if you are physically able. Don’t throw your money away. Look for ways to save some. After this, don’t sit around and worry, just be busy doing something and you won’t have time to worry. 

Eliminating worry is easier said than done. Pray, meditate, be physically and mentally active. Be creative and on the offense about whatever might be troubling you. Don’t take life sitting down. Tackle what you can and trust everything to God. 

Glenn Mollette is the publisher of Newburgh Press, Liberty Torch and various other publishing imprints; a national columnist –  American Issues and Common Sense opinions, analysis, stories and features appear each week In over 500 newspapers, websites and blogs across the United States.