你多會憂慮？
By Robert J. Tamasy
在職場有一件奇妙的事就是我們可以觀察到各式各樣的才幹與能力。有人是天生的領袖，其他人則覺得跟隨並支持領導的人比較容易。有些人的天賦在行政、指揮派遣任務，而有人擅長處理許多細節。有些人在行銷上有天生的技巧──他們甚至能賣冰塊給北加拿大的北極熊。有人善於演說，而有人擅長透過書寫來溝通。
但若有一種我們大多數人都擁有的「技能」，那就是憂慮的能力。若我們擁有一家企業，或承擔高級主管的責任，我們擔心的事情從如何為將來的不確定作計劃，到下週如何付員工薪水。我們擔心最後期限、升遷、找一個新工作，或我們是否能得到（我們認為）應得的加薪。
若我們的生意是倚靠少數幾個重要的客戶，我們就擔心會失去他們。我們憂慮如何找到新客戶。我們擔心我們為了競爭所作的改變可能會損害到我們的生意。我們擔心天氣；地方、國內和全世界的經濟；燃料價格；或者如何跟上不斷改變的科技和市場潮流。
我們太會憂慮了，甚至當絕對沒有事情可憂慮時，我們還是擔心。我們擔心很快將會有事需要憂慮。可能這幫助我們覺得自己對可能發生的事作更好的準備。
我們憂慮的其中一個原因是，當我們沒事可做時，憂慮讓我們覺得有在做事。當我們在關切一個情況時，我們就感覺良好──即使我們對那情況並不能做什麼。但憂慮到底達成了什麼？專家說我們所憂慮之事的至少90%都不會發生，所以我們浪費了許多頭腦和情緒上的精力在沒發生的事上。
我也是屬於容易憂慮的人，但我發現常常提醒自己聖經所談到有關憂慮的話語很能安慰我，使我放心：
停止憂慮，轉而禱告。憂慮剝奪了我們的睡眠，削弱我們的精力，並且干擾我們的內在平安。假如你把擔憂轉交給那位提供不動搖的保證，保證一定會妥善處理我們所擔憂之事的那位，會如何呢？「應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴 神。神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裏保守你們的心懷意念」（腓立比書4章6-7節）。
讓上帝去憂慮。你是否曾嘗試拿非常重的東西，而當有比你強壯的人主動來幫你拿，你就覺得鬆了一口氣。當我們把憂慮交託給上帝，這正是祂會為我們做的事。「你們要將一切的憂慮卸給 神，因為他顧念你們」（彼得前書5章7節）。
上帝要背負我們的重擔。是否有人曾告訴你：「別擔心，我掌管一切」？這正是上帝對我們說的話。我們擔心自己無法掌控的事，或可能不會發生的事。上帝告訴我們：「放輕鬆，我會處理，把重擔放下吧。」耶穌說：「凡勞苦擔重擔的人可以到我這裏來，我就使你們得安息」（馬太福音11章28節）。
勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。
省思 / 討論問題
若你要評估你自己的「憂慮量表」，10分是「我常常憂慮」，1分是「我很少憂慮」，你會是幾分呢？請解釋。 你最容易為什麼樣的事情憂慮？你一向都如何處理那些擔憂？ 你是否曾為你憂慮的事禱告？禱告提供你什麼益處？ 對於把我們的憂慮交託給上帝，你有什麼看法？為何我們很難把焦慮的事託付給上帝－－而不想立刻搶回來？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
詩篇23篇1-6節；箴言3章5-6節；以賽亞書26章3節，41章10節；耶利米書29章11節；馬太福音11章29-30節
HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT WORRYING?
By Robert J. Tamasy
One of the great wonders of the workplace is the variety of talents and abilities we observe. Some people are natural leaders, others find it easier to follow and support those who lead. Some are especially gifted in administration, directing and delegating tasks, while others are adept at personally handling a multitude of details. Some have natural skills at sales and marketing – they could sell ice to polar bears in northern Canada. Others are talented speakers, while some do their best communicating through writing.
But if there is one “skill” most of us possess in equal measure, it is the capacity for worrying. If we own a business or hold top executive responsibilities, we worry about matters ranging from how to plan for future uncertainties to how to meet next week”s payroll. We worry about deadlines, job promotions, finding a new job, or whether we will receive well-deserved (we believe) pay increases.
If our business relies on a small number of key clients, we worry about losing them. We worry about how to find new customers. We worry about our competition making changes that could have a detrimental impact on our business. We worry about the weather; the local, national and world economy; the costs of fuel; or how to keep pace with ever-changing technology and market trends.
We are so accomplished at worrying that we even worry when there is absolutely nothing to worry about. We start worrying that soon there will be something to worry about. Maybe this helps us to feel we will be better prepared for when (and if) it happens.
One of the reasons we worry is because it makes us feel like we are doing something when there is nothing else we can do. We feel good to be concerned about a situation – even if we are helpless to do anything about it. But what does worrying accomplish? Experts say at least 90% of the things that worry us never occur, so we have wasted considerable mental and emotional energy on nothing.
Including myself among those that find it easy to worry, I find it comforting and reassuring to regularly remind myself what the Bible has to say about worry:
Instead of worrying, pray. Worrying deprives us of sleep, saps our energy, and disrupts all sense of inner peace. What if you could simply transfer those concerns to someone else with the unshakable assurance that they will be properly addressed? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Let God do the worrying. Have you ever tried to lift something heavy and felt relief when someone stronger than you volunteered to carry the weight? That is exactly what God offers to do for us when we commit our worries to Him. “Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
God wants to carry the burden. Has anyone ever told you, “Do not worry. I have it under control”? This is exactly what God is telling us. We worry about things outside of our control, or things that probably will not happen. God tells us, “Relax. I will take care of it. Take a load off yourself.” Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
If you were to rate yourself on a “Worry Scale,” with 10 being “I worry much” and 1 being ” I worry very little,” how would you rate yourself? Explain your answer. What kinds of things cause you to worry the most? How do you typically handle those concerns? Have you ever prayed about the things that were worrying you? What benefit – if any – did that provide for you? What do you think about the admonition to commit our worries and concerns to God? Why do you think it is so difficult to turn over to God the things that are causing anxiety for us – without wanting immediately to snatch them back?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 26:3, 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 11:29-30
