In the final class of our NYU semester some seniors were rightfully concerned about finding a job in this economy but they were worrying about worry – they could name all the anxieties that were plaguing them.

In our stress-free living class, we emphasize gratitude as a cure for a lot of the psychological things that ail us.  It’s a different way of looking at things.  Your worries may not be as bad as someone else’s.

At the start of the semester, I asked each person to anonymously write down their three biggest worries – when the cards are shuffled and redistributed to someone else, everyone wants their own worries back (I have never had a time when anyone wanted to do a trade).

This doesn’t mean we like our problems, but it indicates we like them better than someone else’s.  It’s a reality check with benefits.

Pass it along.