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Mark Tully asks if anxiety serves a purpose, taking advice from Bertrand Russell, Carol Ann Duffy, Monty Python and Winnie the Pooh, among others.

Bertrand Russell and Winnie the Pooh, among others, help Mark Tully decide if we should try to stop worrying, or if anxiety serves a purpose.

Mark draws from the words of the 20th century Indian spiritual master, Avatar Meher Baba: “There are few things in the mind which eat up so much energy as worry…..It substantially curtails the joy and fullness of life;” and from the thoughts of the Buddha, who describes two arrows: the first of which pierces us and causes pain; and the second – the arrow of worry or anger – which magnifies the pain ten times if we allow it to strike.

Yet still we go on worrying even when there’s very little to worry about: sentiments expressed in poetry from Kathryn Simmonds, and music by Leonard Bernstein.

So why do we worry, and how do we stop doing so - especially when laying traps for Heffalumps?

Readers: Claire Benedict and Lloyd Peters
Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Adam Fowler
A 7Digital production for ±«Óătv Radio 4.

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Oct 2018 23:30
±«Óătv Radio 4

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In the Habit

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  • Should we try to stop worrying, or does anxiety serve a purpose?

Music Played

  • Monty Python

    IÂ’m so Worried

    • Monty PythonÂ’s Contractual Obligation Album.
    • Virgin Catalogue.
    • 10.

  • Robert Schumann

    Kinderszenen, Op.15 - 7. Träumerei

    Performer: Vladimir Horowitz (Piano).
    • Schumann: Kinderszenen & Kreisleriana.
    • DG.
    • 7.

  • Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg

    Somewhere Over The Rainbow

    Performer: Ariana Grande.
    • Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
    • Republic.
    • 1.

  • Bobby McFerrin

    DonÂ’t Worry Be Happy

    • Simple Pleasures.
    • Manhattan Records.
    • 1.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    The Age of Anxiety

    Performer: Lukas Foss (piano) Isaac Stern (violin).
    • Bernstein: The Age of Anxiety & Serenade for Violin, Strings and Percussion.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.

  • Trad.

    He Who Would Valiant Be

    Performer: Paul Ayres (organ, piano) The Victoria Singers, Sarah Tenant-Flowers (conductor).
    • Songs from Sunday School.
    • The Gift of Music.
    • 15.

Readings

Title: The Conquest of Happiness Author: Bertrand RussellPublished by: Allen & Unwin Ltd.  (December 1961) 
Title: The House at Pooh Corner  Author: AA Milne Published: Methuen (1926)
Title: DebtAuthor: Carol Ann DuffyFound in: Collected PoemsPublished by: Picador UK (2015)
 Title: Status Anxiety Author: Alain de Botton Published by: Hamish Hamilton
Title: The Woman Who Worries Herself to Death Found in: Sunday at the skin LaundretteAuthor: Kathryn SimmondsPublished: Seren (2008) 
Title: In Acceptance Lies PeaceFound in: Circles of stillness Edited by: Hilary WakemanAuthor: Brother RamonPublished: Darton Longman and Todd (2002) Acknowledgment: Julian Meetings Magazine

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Oct 2018 06:05
    ±«Óătv Radio 4
  • Sun 21 Oct 2018 23:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 4