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How can I save myself from worry?
How can I save myself from worry?
By: Abdul Adheem al-Muhtadi al-Bahrani
Question: Would you please tell me how to save myself from worry, distraction, absent-mindedness, and forgetfulness? I will be grateful to you.
The answer: Here are twenty points; if you follow them, I myself will be grateful to you:
- 1. Wake up early enough to give yourself sufficient time to go about your appointments or tasks without hurrying!
2. Have a good breakfast and do not eat in a rush!
3. Do not put off the work of today until tomorrow, for every day has its work!
4. Make friends with those who do not live in psychological troubles!
5. Assign a time everyday to, while in solitude, ponder over moral matters and worships and think deeply about the answer to these questions: Where have I come from? What am I now? Where shall I go after death?
6. Everyday, practice some physical exercises even if it is for just half an hour!
7. Thank Allah for the blessings you have and do not exaggerate your problems!
8. Write down what you want to do everyday!
9. Before talking, think deeply about the consequences of your talks!
10. Give your body some relaxation and rest and practice swimming!
11. Breathe as deeply as possible!
12. Do not worry about what you cannot get!
13. Live your life truly and think of your state and your surroundings!
14. Laugh little, and when you cry, cry much! Let your laughter and cries be for the delight of your heart and the comfort of your nerves.
15. Do not eat more than your needs!
16. Do not promise anyone that which you cannot fulfill, and when you make promises, say “Inshallah”!
17. Do not feel shy to say: “I am sorry, I cannot...I do not know” when you really cannot or do not know!
18. Be a good listener most of the time, and when you talk, talk as little as necessary to convey the concept you want to declare! Try to make your speech eloquent and nice!
19. Read and look for political, scientific, and cultural news as much as you possibly can!
20. Think of Paradise and its pleasures and bliss and imagine that you will stay in it forever, but always remember that you pay its price (in cash) at the present!
Question: For quite some time, my mother has become a sharp criticizer. She cannot bear to see a bit of wrong in anyone. In this state, she has become a point of tittle-tattle and the source of family disagreements. My friends do not visit me because of her. We do not dare to speak up frankly against her, especially since she became angry with my sister who tried to do that once. We do not know how to deal with her. She is correct in her criticism of others, but we do not want to become involved in troubles because most people nowadays do not accept criticism, much less that of my mother’s which is without courtesy and is sharp and stinging. We hope to benefit from your opinion in this concern.
The answer: Old people often suffer from weak nerves; therefore, they cannot bear things that annoy them. If they are religious, sins and disobediences make them angry; if they are not, things that are contrary to their thinking and desires make them angry; if they are sick, loud sounds and noises make them angry ... and so on.
As for your mother, one of these reasons leads her to such criticism that causes troubles. As a cure, I suggest:
- 1. You have to keep her away from what may excite her nerves, and thus, nothing that leads her to criticism will take place before her.
2. You can tell the persons that meet her often to not do anything that will excite her criticism and nerves.
3. You have to excuse her and think of her as if she were psychologically sick and realize that she needs your care, tolerance, and patience.
4. Let most of her food be that which is cold in its nature, such as yogurt, fruits, vegetables, and the like.
5. You have to look for some person who will have influence over her through friendship and wisdom, for however much a man is fanatic, he may change and become more moderate due to a friendship.
6. You have to take her to meetings where preaching takes place. You can agree with the preacher to talk about what may reform her thinking. The preacher may discuss three main points:
First, making mistakes is natural in man’s life. Man is neither an angel nor a beast; he is some of this and some of that. The Prophets, who were sent to reform people, were ordered to be kind to them. Incidentally, it is mentioned that one day the screens were removed from the sight of one of the Prophets for sometime. Whenever he saw unlawful acts inside people’s homes, he damned them and prayed to Allah to afflict them with torment. Allah revealed to him, ‘I am more aware of them than you are and I am worthier of damning and torturing them than you are, but My mercy has preceded my wrath. I have sent you to them in order to invite them to My mercy and not to invoke My wrath against them’. Talking about the Divine Mercy may cure cases of extremism and censure in people like your mother, as talking about the Divine Torment may cure cases of excess in committing sins.
Second, enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong should be in a kind and acceptable way; otherwise it itself becomes wrong.
A good preacher is he who explains to people like your mother that criticism must be offered in a frame of courtesy, smile, wisdom and attractiveness; otherwise its purpose is not realized, and then the problem becomes complicated and this is a mistake worse than the first mistake.
Third, the conducts of the Prophet (S) and the infallible Imams (a.s.) in dealing with wrongdoers should be mentioned to her. Allah has said, (Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and reason with them in the best manner)1.
Notes :
1 Holy Qur’an, 16:125.