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Jill Rauh

Don’t Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety by Shunmyo Matsuko



How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one … but the light bulb has to want to change.

A corny joke for sure, but even people who resist change in general can feel “stuck” and in need of changing their lives if anxiety has taken hold and is keeping them from feeling peaceful, calm, and satisfied with the many blessings they already have.

“Don’t Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety” by Shunmyo Masuno is a compact 205 pages. References to Zen and the Buddha may seem a bit exotic and unfamiliar at first, but the “lessons” are common sense and straightforward. They are easily digested as small bites which the reader can read and re-read as necessary. The Zengo, or Zen sayings, which form the basis of the lessons, allow the reader to think and contemplate each topic and start to remove the external and unnecessary thoughts and pressures causing us so much anxiety.

“Once you accept for yourself the things you have no control over, you will be able to live with the circumstances … you will no longer be fixated over things you’re powerless over, and you’ll be able to deal with the things that you can manage with a positive outlook.”

There. That’s not so hard, is it?

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