One year ago today, what were you worrying about? What fears were paralyzing you that day? What stressed you out? What disturbed your peace of mind on that day? Think about it for a few minutes.

Chances are good that you can't remember what you were worried about a year ago. The stresses you felt on that day are distant memories, which means that they weren't really important at all. If they were, you'd probably remember them.

In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
—Bobby McFerrin

This song is not without its sense of irony, but it really is true. Worrying never solved a problem, but it can make you feel worse about it. Worry can also make you physically ill, which makes it even harder for you to address whatever your challenges are.

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.
—Mahatma Gandhi

It is easy to say that we should just stop worrying and fully trust God and the Universe to carry us. Surrendering to that degree doesn't happen overnight, however. We worry because we want to control what is happening to us, and if we believe that we can control it, then we're not trusting anybody to help us through it. Humans are born with the innate belief that we can control our environment, but of course we can't. We can't control what happens in the world, in our communities, in our workplace, and even to a large extent in our homes. We can't control other people at all. The only thing we can control is our thoughts and how we react to the things that happen to us.

One of the choices we have when we react to a challenge is to worry about it. Another choice that we have is to be as happy as we can while we face the challenge, even if it's difficult. It has become trite to say so, but a positive attitude will yield better results than a negative one.

Some people will say that their worries are "too big" NOT to worry about. And there is no question that some people have some serious challenges. They may well remember what they worried about one year ago, because something painfully memorable occurred on that day. But just as worry cannot pave the way to a better future, it cannot fix the past. Worry forces you to relive your worst fears over and over again, and the price is your peace of mind, your health, and your happiness.

There are no small upsets.
They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind.
—A Course in Miracles

It doesn't matter what you've chosen to worry about. If it's a "big" thing or a "small" thing, the effect is the same. The loss of a job and the fear of not accomplishing your "to do" list are equal in their capacity to rob you of your peace of mind. The focus of the worry is not the problem; your decision to give up your peace of mind is.

Choosing not to worry does not mean that you are choosing a path of passivity, however. It is true:  if you surrender and allow God to support you, you will be supported. But you still have to be involved. When doors open for you, step inside. When the next step on the path is illuminated, walk on it. Pay attention. The Universe is constantly conspiring in your favor, but you do have the power to sabotage yourself. So don't. Stop worrying. Take a deep breath. There's a hidden gift in everything, but it's not always obvious. It may be years before you understand it. But one day, you'll look back on the worries you had today, and you will know that you survived, you overcame, and there was never really any need to worry at all.

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