Worrying is optional

I've been a worrier all my life and it's always fascinated me to see the amount of things that I worry about. Then, when I became quite ill, I didn't worry about anything and life just seemed to tick along just fine without the extra fretting. Now, as I've recovered a little bit, the old habit patterns are starting to re-emerge and there's a sense of pointless worrying starting to return.

However! I've also deepened my meditation over this time and there's a definite optional nature to thinking these thoughts. They arise, they seem believable, if I am aware enough I leave them alone, something else comes along, I go with that, I try to steer towards calmer waters, and so on.