Why Do We Worry in Advance?
Many of us worry about tomorrow, painting the worst-case scenarios in our minds, thereby living with problems that haven’t yet occurred and fearing things that may never happen. We worry and fear about illnesses that have not arrived, or about situations that may never even take place. Indeed, many among us suffer from constant anxiety and fear of the future. Yet, as I mentioned above, anxiety does not prevent misfortune; it may, however, prevent happiness. Even when we experience anxiety only to later discover it was misplaced, we continue to worry. Our fear recurs, only for us to realize, upon waking the next day, that it has passed and was simpler than we anticipated, or that it never happened at all. This kind of anxiety can steal a day from our lives—a day that could have been spent happily with our loved ones, or engaged in work that brings us joy and tranquility, or filled with laughter that eases our inner tensions.
We are indeed required to plan for tomorrow, not to ignore it, and to prepare for it by taking necessary precautions, but without allowing this to overshadow the space for enjoyment within us. Let everything come in its own time; if a problem arises, we will deal with it then. If it does not arise, we will be among the losers, for we have wronged our day without cause. Therefore, when anxiety attacks you, ask yourself a simple question: Is there actually a problem? If there is, let us seek a solution; if there is not, why allow it to dominate our entire day? I always repeat this saying to anyone who worries about tomorrow and gives this anxiety more space than necessary in their mind and thoughts. I tell them: Every problem has one of two fates: either it will be resolved, or it will not. If it will be resolved, why worry? And if it cannot be resolved, what is the benefit of worrying? Let us live our day, laugh, and find happiness with our loved ones, and in everything we do. Do not postpone our happiness until we feel secure about our future; the future is uncertain in either case. Why pay the price of anxiety, pain, and fear twice: once before the event and once after?
Iqbal Al-Ahmad
