it's time for a change
5- Tips On How to Get Control of Worrying
1. Journal your thoughts
Spend some time writing, allowing whatever is on your mind. Do this for at least a week to get a better idea of what you seem to focus on most often. If you are focusing on life's a mess, isolate what is causing it through your writing. Is worry creating this feeling?
2. Identify worry thoughts
After a week of writing, review your notes; place a check next to any thought that is recurring, or similar. Write your thoughts about what you checked.
3. Ask why and write your responses
Why are you worrying about this? This may take a little more time to get at the source, but do it anyway.
4. Why are you afraid?
Once you discover “why” examine the “why.” Is it fear? Are you afraid of the outcome of something? Is it that you are afraid of your grandson in his rebellion will end up dead? Don't feel bad, you're not alone; many have life's messes to work through.
5. Now What!
You can choose ways that you feel more comfortable with. Some use affirmations, or meditation techniques. Or you can “Cast all of your cares upon Him (God) because He cares for you.” When worries are given to God He cleanses the mind of these random worries directed by Satan, allowing the recipient the opportunity to keep a mindset that is in peace in Him (God).
Just know that there's hope for a better life.
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Drug Craving Gone In An Instant
Meeting people at every stage in life is satisfying, particularly those who have fallen to sickness or drugs and made a tremendous come back. Recently I had the opportunity to interview Gregory Hammonds who had been a drug addict for over 20 years.
I wanted to understand the drug culture because I have someone in my family who is heading in that direction. Gregory walked me through a day in the life of a drug addict: getting up early in the morning, trying to beat the other homeless guys to the soda cans to buy your first drink or hit of the day, working at picking up cans, or trying to hustle something from sun up to sun down.
Gregory had my ear for a few hours, talking about sleeping on the street, always prepared to make your home wherever you are, using what is available. He told me about sleeping under houses, covering up with newspaper to keep warm; sleeping under tables to shield himself from the rain, not to mention the spiders, roaches, rats, snakes and O’possums that he shared space with, and the cold winter nights.
As I looked into his face,and at his body there were no signs of having lived such a destructive life. His drugging started in high school with pot and ended with smoking crack cocaine in adulthood. That was the drug that took his hope, robbed his dignity, stole his will.
The journey for Gregory into drugs began with his father and mother who were both alcoholics. They worked and drank. Drinking passed down to Gregory but, in addition, he picked up the habit of using drugs from his oldest brother,which, as he puts it, “took everything from me.”.
No matter how loud Gregory cried, no one heard him. Twenty years later his brother, the very one who had gotten him hooked on drugs came and said, “Come Now My Brother, God sent me to get you.”
Gregory remembers that day to be like no other day. According to him, time stood still. It was extremely quiet. He heard a voice say, “Run, hide. He’s coming to get you,” but Gregory couldn’t move. When he saw his brother coming his way, Gregory says he looked like an angel. All he could do was listen, like he had never before paid attention. Something was different, drawing Gregory closer. His brother had a peace about him. Gregory found it hard to resist the words coming out of his brother’s mouth.
That day, that hour, Gregory Hammonds, after 20 years of boozing, drugging and homelessness, was delivered instantaneously from drugs, alcohol, anger, self-destruction.
That was 16 years ago. Gregory’s life will never be the same.
There is a point in everyone’s life where we realize we can’t help ourselves, that we are not in control of the outcome. It could be at a moment when we lose everything, material, or physical health, maybe even a job.
Listening to Gregory sharing his story gave me hope for so many others who are stuck, who have lost everything, even their dignity.
Today Gregory is married, has a five year old son, been gainfully employed at a local college for over 15 years. He spends his life going into the highways and byways to reach others with his message.
