Overcoming Worries, Doubts and Fears - This Poem by Dr. Roland Trujillo Tells You How
Pastor, I'm in a hurry
But I need your advice.
All I do is worry
And rethink everything twice.
I worry about this and I worry about that.
Whether I'm too thin or maybe too fat.
Did I remember to feed the cat?
Did I turn off the television?
Did I wait until the dryer stopped spinning?
Did I turn on the answering machine?
Was that scary thing real or was it a dream?
Will I ever meet someone?
With me, does anyone ever have fun?
Did I commit the unpardonable sin?
When I arrive will they let me in?
I dread having to give a speech tomorrow.
Why am I always behind a hard act to follow?
I'm worried about today,
I'm still worrying about yesterday.
Does my hair look okay?
Pastor, I need your help and suggestion.
But I'm worried you won't answer my question.
_____________
Don't worry or fear,
Pastor Roland is here.
He's a Pastor
And he's got an answer.
Relax and get a good night's rest.
Pastor Roland's answers are the best.
He's working on an answer for you;
It will be ready soon.
____________________
Thank you for your excellent question.
And let me just mention
I would like to assure you that you are not alone.
Most people get lost in thoughts
Which soon take on a negative tone.
Meditation is the repair
To worries, doubts, fears and despair.
So grab your mobile device and read my poem.
And read it on your desktop when you are home.
Your problem is you are too lost between your ears.
You dwell on the morbid and fall into fears.
You're too lost in daydreams, thoughts and schemes,
Replacing reality with fantasy scenes.
Things are never as bleak as they seem.
Your unhappy thoughts and fears are like a bad dream.
Just meditate to wake up and see
They are just thoughts and not reality.
When we're young we dream of being an athlete
Or entertainer without compare.
But when we get older, our daydreams become nightmares.
We develop the habit of escaping from our cares
The mental world becomes so strong
Soon it's in charge and bossing us around.
The solution is elementary -
Learn to stand back mentally.
Become the thinker instead of the thought
Soon you'll be in charge, as you ought.
Get out of your thinking and fantasy
And meditate for objectivity.
Become aware of your hand
Then you'll understand.
Watch the thoughts go passing by.
Don't get involved.
Just watch them go and kiss them goodbye,
They will tease and taunt and continue to try
To pull you in to get involved.
Just remember that no issues by worry were ever solved.
And as the thoughts go marching by
From your mental grandstand wave goodbye.
Things are never as bleak as they seem.
Your unhappy thoughts and fears are like a bad dream.
Just meditate to wake up and see
They are just thoughts and not reality.
Once you become centered and grounded
You'll see that most of your fears are unfounded.
Get out of your thinking
And the emotions in which you are sinking.
Mentally step back
And calmly observe your panic attacks.
Remain neutral and mentally distant.
Don't offer resentful resistance.
Struggling makes negative thoughts worse.
Just remember the following verse:
Things are never as bleak as they seem.
Your unhappy thoughts and fears are like a bad dream.
Just meditate to wake up and see
They are just thoughts and not reality.
Don't sit around and ruminate
Let me show you how to meditate.
It's so easy, you will say "wow."
"Nobody ever showed me how."
I can get you started now.
You will be able to discern what is true
And you'll intuit what to do.
Worries, doubts, and fears will be a thing of the past
When you learn to watch them and let them pass.
When you are calm you will act without commotion.
You'll move with grace and calmness instead of emotion.
The result will be progress
And step by step you will find success.
It's important to learn to mentally stand back
So you are in control
Not drifting away with the mental flow.
Once you learn to observe thought,
You are now in effortless control
Of what you once fought.
Don't try to blank your thoughts
Or pretend they aren't there.
Mentally stand back and observe what is there.
Before you shoved them under the carpet to be unaware.
Now at the negative thoughts you will be able to stare.
You are the general
Watching thought from your grandstand
While you notice your forehead and your right hand.
You used to struggle and then throw in the towel
And soon were lost in thought every hour.
Now you'll discover you have the power
To stand back and watch from your observation tower.
You will also relate better to other people and family
You'll discover how to be kind and friendly
Without over-reacting to them emotionally.
You'll have endless patience and a light touch
You'll be able to discern and not judge.
You' ll discover the beauty of reality
The larks and robins you will hear.
Instead of problems, solutions you will see,
And your heart will be filled with cheer.
______________________
Pastor Ro, thank you for your answer today.
I will do what you say.
I'll get your meditation and try it right away.
Do you have any suggestions for friends and family
Who don't use your meditation mp3?
Sure. Remember the goal is emotional control
By staying out of excessive thought,
Through passive observation as I have taught.
My meditation, you will see,
Is the bread and butter of your recovery.
My meditation is the best,
But harm reduction has its place
To help someone be in a better space.
You can tell them about the meditation,
But if you see hesitation,
You can still give them some good advice that's free.
So here's what you can tell them to do
(And it's good advice for you too!)
So here are some other things to do
That won't replace meditation
But will make do
And help someone get by
Until the meditation they are ready to try.
Find something to engage the imagination
Like listening to a ball game on the sports station.
Or an old time radio
Comedy or drama show.
Read a novel or autobiography.
At the public library they are free.
How about books on tape or CD?
Borrow movies from the library:
Detective, romance, mystery,
Adventure or comedy.
Next to meditation, a good book is my favorite
Especially if you don't have to pay for it.
Radio ball games or drama, and movies are good too.
But in a pinch, TV will have to do.
It's better than morbid thoughts and feeling blue.
TV is hypnotic and numbs the critical faculty.
Whereas reading or listening engages the attention healthily.
So TV should be used sparingly
Until you are a seasoned meditator
And can watch with objectivity.
Another thing I would like to say
Is encourage you to do things right away.
A little misunderstanding between you and your mate?
Get it cleared up today, tomorrow is too late.
Something unpleasant that you need to do?
A bill to pay or a chore to do?
Do it now so you won't have to stew.
When you leave something undone
You keep thinking about it and it ruins your fun.
Got a phone call you've got to make?
Do it now and get it out of the way.
It's important to learn to mentally stand back
So you are in control
Not drifting away with the mental flow.
Once you learn to observe thought,
You are now in effortless control
Of what you once fought.
Don't try to blank thoughts with effort
Or hide them under the cover.
But don't drift away with them either.
Mentally stand back and observe what is there.
Before you shoved it under the carpet to be unaware.
Now at the negative thought you will be able to stare.
You are the general watching thought from your grandstand
While you notice your forehead and your right hand.
You used to struggle and then throw in the towel
And soon were lost in thought every hour.
Now you'll discover you have the power
To stand back and watch from your observation tower.
You will also relate better to other people and family
You'll discover how to be kind and friendly
Without over-reacting to them emotionally.
You'll have endless patience and a light touch
You'll be able to discern and not judge.
You' ll discover the beauty of reality
The larks and robins you will hear.
Instead of problems, solutions you will see,
And your heart will be filled with cheer.
