Worry no more! Or at least less...
recs no.1
I didn’t plan for these recommendations to have a theme. And I know I won’t be consistent with themes, so this is most likely a one-time thing. This edition’s theme is (drumroll🥁): worry!
It’s an inevitable part of the human condition. But as with most things in life, we can learn how to engage with it differently.
Let’s get into it.
Worry is an unhelpful friend and a shoddy fortune-teller by Lucas LaFreniere.
This is an essay from Psyche, one of my favourite digital magazines. They have a myriad of essays discussing the ‘human condition.’
Why you should read it: I go back to this essay a lot because it reminds me of the problem with worry. It shows you how destructive it can be, reveals the extent to which it can keep you from enjoying your life, and why you’re better off without it.
How to Beat Worry by Lawrence Yeo
This is one of my favourite writers on Beyoncé’s internet. I love what he writes about, how he does it, and his incorporation of illustrations.
Why you should read it: After you learn about why worry is bad, this piece has practical steps for actually beating worry. He gives examples and uses stories to get his points across (plus there are pictures!) It’s a long read but it’s worth it.
A ‘The School of Life’ YouTube video
You guessed it, I also really like these guys. They have different mediums (videos, articles, books, etc.) for helping you grow and heal and whatnot. But I’ve only watched their videos on YouTube.
Why you should watch it: This video is really helpful if you’re struggling with being overwhelmed or if you’re losing patience over something you feel should have gotten over or you believe you should have improved on. It tells you why and how you should take life one day at a time.
Watch it here 👇🏾
Here Comes a Thought (feat. Estelle & AJ Michalka)
I’ve never watched Steven Universe but during my Twitter days, a mutual recommended this song emphasising how peaceful it is. (Plus cartoon music do usually be hitting hard so…)
Why you should listen to it: Apart from the beautiful voices, this song is about intrusive thoughts. It talks about watching these thoughts float by (which is a meditation technique for observing your thoughts but not engaging with them) and grounding yourself in the present moment. And it’s also a very calming song.
Listen here 👇🏾
A video from Zimbabwean-Australian visual artist, Baskwa
I just came across this video and found what the artist said really inspiring so I decided to add it last minute.
Why you should watch it: If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed about how long a journey is or how much ground is left to cover, the artist talks about focusing on the next step only and shares a cute quote.
Worrying isn’t a switch we can simply turn off, I wish it was. But we can keep on trying to get better at engaging with it in a healthier and more mindful way and I hope this post helps you on that journey.
Those are my recommendations for the month! I hope you got something out of it. If you did, or you have tips or helpful content on battling worry, comment and let us know!
I will see you on the last day of the month for The Reading Nook! I’m so excited for that.
Till then, I hope you worry less and are present more. Bye and thank you for reading <3