How To Not Be Anxious

Dr. Friedrich (Frederick) Salomon Perls (1893 - 1970), better known as Fritz Perls, was a noted German-born Psychiatrist and psychotherapist of Jewish descent. His approach is related but not identical to Gestalt psychology and the Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy of Hans-Juergen Walter. His ideas were also used to develop new age human potential concerns such as neurolinguistic programming NLP.

Dr. "Fritz Perls" is consider by many as the father of Gestalt Therapy.
One of his predominant teachings was that of resolving anxiety by living in the "now", or in other words, fulfilling all psychological needs
(or "unfinished business"), by remaining aware of one's thoughts, emotions and experiences "in-the moment". Although I personally appreciate aspects of Fritz Perl's work in the field of psychology, let us draw a comparison of Dr. Perls to another historical figure, that of
St. Claude de la Columbiere. We will do so by contrasting "prayers" written by each of the two. Prayers that were subsequently recited loyally by ideologically dedicated followers.

The prayer of Dr. Frederick Perls (1969):

"I do my thing and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,
And you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I,
And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.
If not, it can't be helped. "

The prayer of St. Claude de la Columbiere:
(middle 1600's)

"My God, I believe most firmly that Thou watchest over all who hope in Thee, and that we can want for nothing when we rely upon Thee in all things; therefore I am resolved for the future to have no anxieties, and to cast all my cares upon Thee.

People may deprive me of worldly goods and of honors; sickness may take from me my strength and the means of serving Thee; I may even lose Thy grace by sin; but my trust shall never leave me. I will preserve it to the last moment of my life, and the powers of hell shall seek in vain to wrestle it from me.

Let others seek happiness in their wealth, in their talents; let them trust to the purity of their lives, the severity of their mortifications, to the number of their good works, the fervor of their prayers; as for me, O my God, in my very confidence lies all my hope.'For Thou, O Lord, singularly has settled me in hope.'
This confidence can never be in vain. 'No one has hoped in the Lord and has been confounded.'

I am assured, therefore, of my eternal happiness,
for I firmly hope for it, and all my hope is in Thee.
'In Thee, O Lord, I have hoped; let me never be confounded.'

I know, alas! I know but too well that I am frail and changeable;
I know the power of temptation against the strongest virtue.
I have seen stars fall from heaven, and pillars of firmament totter; but these things alarm me not.
While I hope in Thee I am sheltered from all misfortune,
and I am sure that my trust shall endure, for I rely upon Thee to sustain this unfailing hope.

Finally, I know that my confidence cannot exceed Thy bounty, and that I shall never receive less than I have hoped for from Thee. Therefore I hope that Thou wilt sustain me against my evil inclinations; that Thou wilt protect me against the most furious assaults of the evil one, and that Thou wilt cause my weakness to triumph over my most powerful enemies. I hope that Thou wilt never cease to love me, and that I shall love Thee unceasingly.
"In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded."