Ask Right Questions To Deal With Anxiety And A Zen Koan
22 July 2008
15 Comments
Photo Courtesy of desi.italy
I am putting together different ways in which we can deal with anxiety and be stress free. This is Part III of the series : Break Free of Anxiety Habits - Creative Ways to Deal with Stress and Overcome Anxiety.
[ For Part I of the series, click here ]
[ For Part II of the series, click here ]
Ask Right Questions To Deal With Anxiety
1. Let go of anxiety
An Indian sage Shantideva has following take on anxiety -
“If you have a problem and you can do something about it, there is no need to get anxious about it because you can actively do something to solve it. On the other hand, if there is nothing you can do to solve it, getting anxious about it is useless — it won’t fix the problem. So either way you look at it, whether the problem is solvable or unsolvable, there is no sense in getting anxious or upset about it. Try thinking like that about one of your problems. Just sit for a minute and think, “Is there something I can do about this or not?” If something can be done, go ahead and do that — there’s no need to sit around and worry. If nothing can be done to alter the situation, it is useless to worry. Just let it go.”
2. Sow a seed of doubt
Weaken the basic premise of anxiety. What makes you anxious? Question your logic, question your assumptions, question the future you are predicting. For all of these, just ask - Is this true? Can I be wrong? And you will observe what seemed 100% gauranteed has now turned into 50% maybe and then 25% maybe. By stepping back and evaluating, by questioning your thoughts, you will be able to judge properly and this will diminish the power negative thoughts have over you.
3. Use Power Questions
One of the best ways to keep mind off the worry track is to focus on positives in your life. Can’t think of anything positive at this moment? Then use power of questions. Ask yourself -
- If I have to be, what are the things in my life I can be thankful about?
- If I have to name 5 positive things in my life, what would they be?
- What is right in my life today?
- If I really have to mention something good about the current situation, what would that be?
- What would it take to make this perfect?
Following is an interesting Zen Koan titled “Maybe”.
Koan is a story, dialogue, question, or statement in the history and lore of Zen Buddhism.
A farmer’s horse ran away. His neighbors gathered upon hearing the news and said sympathetically, “That’s such bad luck.”
“Maybe,” the farmer replied.
The horse returned on his own the next morning, and brought seven wild horses with it. “Look how many more horses you have now,” the neighbors exclaimed. “How lucky!”
“Maybe,” the farmer replied.
The next day, the farmer’s son attempted to ride one of the wild horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. “How awful,” the neighbors said. “It looks like your luck has turned for the worse again.”
The farmer simply replied, “Maybe.”
The following day, military officers came to town to conscript young men into the service. Seeing the son’s broken leg, they rejected him. The neighbors gathered round the farmer to tell him how fortunate he was.
“Maybe,” said the farmer.
What’s your interpretation of this story?
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I love the Shantideva quote! And I also like the idea of questioning yourself when you’re predicting a negative outcome.
My interpretation of the story is that everyone has a different perspective. At every seemingly good or bad stage, the farmer is neither joyous or anxious. He is not tied to his emotions derived from external events. He is just observing. In his observations, he knows that emotions and things come and go; they are seldom permanent. And hence, his answer is always “maybe”.
I love a challenge! Let me know if my interpretation is according to what the story is trying to teach us!
Evelyn
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Maps last blog post..Face Up To Your 6 Basic Fears
This quote is really awakening!
““Is there something I can do about this or not?” If something can be done, go ahead and do that — there’s no need to sit around and worry. If nothing can be done to alter the situation, it is useless to worry. Just let it go.”
So true!
Thanks, and thanks for Evelyn for stumbling this article!
Robert
Robert A. Henrus last blog post..A few blogger updates
Great Shantideva quote - one well worth reading every morning.
My interpretation of the story is to have complete acceptance of and make no judgments about whatever comes your way. What is, is and it’s neither good nor bad.
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..The Unsung Social Skill
Hi Avani,
I love this, ““Is there something I can do about this or not?”. By asking this question, often the answer is “no”. Time to let it go.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen - Part 2 - Errors Bloggers Make
Oh, I just saw your RSS button: a little man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. How cute!
Marelisas last blog post..Six Steps to Creating the Life You Really Want
Wow
I didn’t expect all of you to like the same quote - Shantideva’s “Is there something I can do about this or not?”. Practising this is more fun.
My interpretation of the story was that - you can never know what happens in your life is really good or bad. - A great point to remember when time is going tough. Who knows, what good is going to come out of that.
And it reminded me of the quote - “Even this will pass away”.
Marelisa,
I loved the rss button as well. Thanks to Blogging For Novice. There are other interesting buttons as well.
Evelyn,
Beauty of zen koans is that with one story, they can teach us multiple things. It’s interesting to know how one story can teach us multiple lessons.
Thanks for sharing your interpretation.
Robert,
Yes, the quote is awakening. Happy to know you liked it.
Laurie,
I agree. Beginning each day with this quote would make such a big difference in the way we view life. Thanks for sharing your interpretation.
Barbara,
That’s true. Most of times we keep tinkering with things we cannot change. And don’t focus on places where we can make a difference. What a waste of effort that is.
I enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Jann
Jann Freeds last blog post..A Change of Perspective
Avani,
about Shantideva’s the matter is interesting. Anxiety is triggered when we think about something we judge important, and at the same time we feel it out of our sphere of influence.
If we can do something, this is a good brainstorming time to solve the problem, and better for us to act sooner to eliminate the internal pressure.
If decide we can’t do anything, it becomes intricated. It can get worse. In fact we feel it’s important but we cannot help with the situation, unless we convince ourselves it’s not so important. And it’s not easy. I would work on anxiety itself, and try to change the state on mind of being anxious. With a calm mind I might figure out that after all I can do something to find a solution.
My two cents and compliment for your lovely Blog.
Take care,
Elio
Elio Galluzzis last blog post..How do you feel?
Hi Avani - this is really interesting. The farmer obviously wasn’t going to waste his time worrying about something he couldn’t change.
Also his neighbours were attaching emotions to the loss and gain of material things.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Oops - I Sank A Business
I love that story. I think it show that you just never know. You never know how the choices, actions, or circumstance surrounding you my change or alter your life.
Hi there Avani
I think what I was hearing in this story was that the farmer was willing to go with the flow and allow events to sort themselves out - a trust in life, perhaps. I could take it further and say maybe the trust in life paid dividends!
Robins last blog post..A Magic Trick For Relationships
Hi Jann,
Happy to know you are enjoying my posts.
Hi Elio,
Anxiety occurs when we face loss of control - that’s so true.
Your two cents are definetely worth more
Hi Cath,
Yes, the reaction of farmer and his neighbour both are very interesting.
Hi Rachel,
I agree, life is unpredictable.
Hi Robin,
Trusting life to sort itself - Life would become so simpler with this.
That\’s something to stretch your brain cells over! First time here. I\’ll have to thinking about adding you to my favorites Ciao!
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