Sharing A Resource For Worriers

I love to read, I usually have multiple books started at any given time.  One book I have been reading is Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living."  For someone that reads a lot, I admit, there are many books that I glance over and they don't bring about any profound change to my life.  This book however has really been giving me a fresh perspective on life and if I can internalize it, could really bring about lasting change.  I want to encourage other people to read it, if you have problems with worrying and over-analyzing like I do I hope it could help you like it is helping me.  Also with a new year starting I wanted to share this excerpt I found from the book called Just For Today, I made a copy of it and hung it where I can see it every day.  It is a very wise little poem. 

JUST FOR TODAY

Sibyl F. Partridge

1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true that, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.

2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.

5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, "just for exercise."

6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.

7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I have to keep them up for a lifetime.

8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour.  I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests - hurrying and indecision.

9. Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. In this half hour, sometimes, I will think of God so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

10. Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially, I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.