Embracing Concern, Rejecting Worry

Overflow with Craig Booker

Note: A lot of the material is inspired by Louie Giglio's book. Each week, I take concepts from Winning the War on Worry and apply them to brain health.

Louie opens by telling a story about how his wife Shelly is an A-Z person while he is an A-B type personality.

He deeply loves and appreciates his wife.

But both personality types are susceptible to worry.

“We learned in the previous chapter about the anatomy of worry and how the different themes of worry are connected by the same thread: control. And while we determined that our ability to control our lives is an illusion, we still need to address the question of how we can reject control and fear while still accounting for planning, preparation, and concern.” [1]

“God calls you to steward what you have in your hands.

He gives you decision-making authority over what He has entrusted to you.” [1]

“Matthew 25 – Jesus tells the parable about a master who goes away for an extended period of time. This master entrusts a considerable amount of money to his three servants.” [1]

1st Servant – 5 talents or 100 years’ worth of wages.

2nd Servant – 2 talents

3rd Servant – 1 talent

“He gave talents according to their ability.” [1]

Learning to Plan Without Practicing Worry

“Planning: Planning is a constructive and tangible process where steps and actions are linked together for future outcomes.” [1]

“While planning, contingencies are always in place for unexpected events or delays. But these contingency plans do not impede our ability to move toward the next step with confidence.” [1]

“In other words, planning is about leveraging your gifts and resources around what is in your hand at this moment, and moving it forward, step by step.” [1]

“If planning is a constructive and tangible process, worry is the projection of an endless string of what-if scenarios that absorbs all present effort (what you could be doing with what is currently in your hands). This string of what ifs often brings fear and paralysis that keeps us from our next steps.” [1]

“Planning focuses on the present and on what is in your hands, while occasionally looking ahead to factor in what is to come. Worry fixates on the future, while occasionally circling back to “work” on what is currently in front of you.” [1]

“The third servant in the story of the talents got paralyzed by the what ifs.” [1]

What if I lose the money?

What if I’m not capable?

What if the other...