I am definitely adding this to my checklist of Philosophies for consideration. However, I am not a big fan of Anxiety and have a different thought. I like to think about Self Empowerment and ask myself the question are my thoughts useful and empowering which I call good stress vs. anxiety building thoughts which are bad stress. Additionally my checklist of philosophies includes the following now:
1. Steven Covey concept that between stimulus and response is a gap/moment of choice. I really choose to be happy, sad, angry etc, not my environment, me.
2. Abraham Maslow concept of Self Actualization. The Pyramid where at the top is self actualization, in the middle might be Purpose in life (friends, family, work etc), and at the bottom the physical needs for food, water, and shelter. You can't get up higher on Pyramid till the bottom ones are met perse. Where am I on the pyramid.
3. Deepak Chopra principles of least effort. A. accept your life situation B. take responsibility by focusing on creative options and not the situation itself C. Keep your point of view to yourself, ie) stop trying to convince everyone on your point of view of things. This makes life so much simpler.
4. Thomas Moore who defined Faith as continuing to believe even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Wow there is a thought.
5. Meditation itself: focused attention. Reading can be meditatitive. Prayer itself goes beyond Meditation.
6. Eckert Tolle's focus on the Power of Now. Where is my attention at this moment, past, future, when it should be on the Now, Present, because that is the only real thing there is perse, Now.
7. Daniel Golemans book on Emotional Intelligence. What is my state of emotional intelligence. The problems of Amygdala Hyjack is when I lose control becoming unconscious perse and snap and start yelling back at someone etc. We are all one car horn away at times in today's chaotic world. Stress builds and one little thing and we snap. How can you ever be mad at anyone including yourself when you realize that they had an Amydala Moment perse and became unconscious. The key is to be aware of our states and buildup of stress and our ability to handle stressful situations.
8. Ultimately, I learned that all emotional events can be cathartic if not also painful moments and in the long run, "its all good" because I am really growing with every cathartic event even though it doesn't feel like it at the moment. Emptying of the Ego as Thomas Moore and Eckert Tolle sorta suggest are sorta chathartic moments I think they allude too.
9. Have you ever noticed your more easily upset when in actually everything in life is going pretty good and you can't deal with the slightest imperfection occuring. Strange how that is.
10. Good manners are key to a better world: Be polite, be gracious, be humble.
11. The only way to bring out the best in other people is to bring out the best in yourself. Puts the onus where it really belongs. Every human interaction is a chance to put that into practice.
12. Deepak Chopras law of detachment noting that "security is an illusion", and "uncertainty is really our greatest gift. Every torment could be a teacher in disguise, all is possible."
13. A chaplain who noted to his soldiers "ok to gripe up but never gripe down" meaning its ok to tell the boss your problems but not for the boss to lay his problems on you.
14. From the sound of Music the songs line " Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever does."
15. Donald Spotto who noted "Faith is not about Magic."
16. Definition of Insanity doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.
17. Lords Prayer: Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
18. Yoda: Do, no try
19. Zen Master from Charlie Wilsons War: "Will See"
20. Nothing really good ever comes from FEAR so why be afraid, fear not. Reason and fear can only lead to paranoia and failures.
21. Finally, something is going on in life, to deny that reality is sheer folly (ignorance). Eastern Buddhism, Western Christianity, Islam, etc. Even atheists can't deny the worth found in a "meaningful life/purpose, therefore if we put it all together, how can we deny the reality of something going on, call it what you want, its something (human spirit) growth, evolving, faith in s/t greater then ourselves.
So, As Thomas Moore noted "everyone needs a philosophy of life and a religious position that is worth the risk of one's life and to know that we don't know the ultimate secrets of human existence should give us hope, because this failure confirms that our efforts by themselves are incomplete."