New problems

Good morning, God, and thanks much for this new day!  I hope that I'm able to enjoy all it has to offer, that I'm able to make as much of it as is possible.

In the last couple of days, a couple of new problems have arisen from a couple of sources that were completely unexpected.  It's not enough that I have an awful lot of work to do--even extra work that I've taken on--but now I have to deal with issues that I really shouldn't have to be dealing with.  Is this the spice of life, or are these just annoyances that are going to keep me from addressing the issues that I really should be addressing?  Will they be easy to take care of?  My fear always is that they're going to be issues that drag on and on, even though that usually doesn't happen.  I'll try to deal with them quickly and effectively, but since they depend upon the actions of other people, too, the outcomes aren't exactly in my control.

In any case, I do ask for your help in dealing with these issues.  They won't be completely pleasant if they drag on and the stress continues, but if you could at least help me to deal with the stress and with the problems, I'd truly appreciate it.

Thanks!

A reply:

You've already felt a lifting of the stress as soon as you asked for my help.  That's the first step, of course--to give the problem over to someone else so that you're not dealing with it alone.

You're dealing with the lifelong issue of having had to deal with problems on your own, too.  Because of this, you dread problems more than some other people do.  Since your parents weren't there for you to help you deal with most of your problems, you've grown up thinking that you have to do everything yourself.  That in itself makes problems more drastic than they actually are.  Just remember that it's up to you to do only what you can do, and trust that others will do what they're supposed to do.  Make your effort, then leave it in my hands and the hands of others.

Problems aren't the problem--stress over the problems, fear that the problems will escalate and become much worse is the problem.  Give your fear to me, and you'll find that your problems become completely different in your mind, which is where they exist mostly in the first place.