Dealing with Worries and Anxiety at Work - 2

We noted last time that worries and anxiety can be frequent visitors at work. After a lengthy personal example, we sought ways to deal with these. Today we get some advice on the matter from Fr. Willie Doyle.

Before Father weighs in, here are a few more sources of anxiety and worry that can show up that aren't strictly personal.

Right now, inflation has caused many businesses to consider raising prices to customers. For some this is harder than for others. Consumer product companies that produce what are basically essential products can raise prices to some extent knowing that customers will continue to buy food, cleaning products, alcoholic beverages, etc. 

While there are always limits to what consumers will want to or be able to shell out, we who run professional practices that rely on fees can find it a bit more challenging. Unless the professional service must be engaged, clients can always decide they'll put off getting our brilliant advice and counsel. So if you need a defense attorney in a criminal or civil matter in which you are wrongly accused, you'll likely hire the best you can afford. But if you're estate plan needs updating, there's less of an urge to take care of what can be put off. So imagine the practitioner whose business consists of these discretionary services now dealing with higher costs to run the business to service clients who can put off such services. Will the practitioner raise fees to absorb the costs.

While you may get anxious deciding whether to raise fees or not, what about someone suddenly laid off from their job? Or perhaps an independent contractor working for a bigger client who simply refuses to pay what they owe. Financial stress of right up there with the worst kinds. And having your income cut off at the knees suddenly, with nor reasonable recourse for the foreseeable future can bring some pretty intense waves of anxiety and worry - even for those who don't have a sizable family to support.

With these and so many other possibilities in mind, let's switch to what we do in the face of worry and/or anxiety. And no, the answer isn't "Don't worry." Worry comes when it will. And while having real trust in God can take some of the edge off, it likely won't make it disappear. This is where Fr. Willie's comments can help. The remarks themselves are brief, but the comment by the posting editor help to expand on Father's words:

Don’t let the devil spoil the work by making you fret and worry.

COMMENT: This line from Fr Doyle is taken from a much longer letter of spiritual direction, the specifics of which are unlikely to be relevant to many of the readers of this website.

But this line, about the father of lies, and his capacity to make us worry, is relevant for us all…

One of the characteristics of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is peace and serenity. On the other hand, one of the traits of the enemy is worry and anxiety.

All of the saints faced worries and anxieties. Many were founders who faced financial worries. Many saints faced false accusations of scandal. Then there were those who underwent a severe trial of faith, experiencing a profound dark night of the soul. Then we have those “victim souls” who suffered intense illness and abandonment. Other saints had to separate themselves from friends and family in the process of entering religious life, or going away to the missions, or even converting to Catholicism. And of course there were the martyrs, who faced torture and horrific death.

One thing that characterizes the saints throughout their trials is serenity. They had the peace that the world cannot give; they refused to give in to the temptation to fret and worry. We see this same tranquility and cheerfulness in Fr Doyle’s letters home to his father from the Front. It is hard to believe that bombs and gas attacks were being unleashed around one who was so happy and concerned for others.

As Fr Doyle wrote on another occasion:

Worries? Of course; and thank God. How else are you going to be a saint. 

(Source: www,williedoyle.org)