Chapter IX Anxiety of Mind of “Introduction to the Devout Life”

In 1609, St. Francis de Sales published “Introduction of the Devout Life.” His chapter on anxiety may be of interest to our community. It is in the public domain, so here it is. Any italics are my emphasis:

ANXIETY of mind is not so much an abstract temptation, as the source whence various
temptations arise. Sadness, when defined, is the mental grief we feel because of our involuntary
ailments;—whether the evil be exterior, such as poverty, sickness or contempt; or interior, such as
ignorance, dryness, depression or temptation. Directly that the soul is conscious of some such
trouble, it is downcast, and so trouble sets in. Then we at once begin to try to get rid of it, and find
means to shake it off; and so far rightly enough, for it is natural to us all to desire good, and shun
that which we hold to be evil.
If any one strives to be delivered from his troubles out of love of God, he will strive patiently,
gently, humbly and calmly, looking for deliverance rather to God’s Goodness and Providence than
to his own industry or efforts; but if self-love is the prevailing object he will grow hot and eager
in seeking relief, as though all depended more upon himself than upon God. I do not say that the
person thinks so, but he acts eagerly as though he did think it. Then if he does not find what he
wants at once, he becomes exceedingly impatient and troubled, which does not mend matters, but
on the contrary makes them worse, and so he gets into an unreasonable state of anxiety and distress,
till he begins to fancy that there is no cure for his trouble. Thus you see how a disturbance, which
was right at the outset, begets anxiety, and anxiety goes on into an excessive distress, which is
exceedingly dangerous.
This unresting anxiety is the greatest evil which can happen to the soul, sin only excepted. Just
as internal commotions and seditions ruin a commonwealth, and make it incapable of resisting its
foreign enemies, so if our heart be disturbed and anxious, it loses power to retain such graces as it
has, as well as strength to resist the temptations of the Evil One, who is all the more ready to fish
(according to an old proverb) in troubled waters.
Anxiety arises from an unregulated desire to be delivered from any pressing evil, or to obtain
some hoped-for good. Nevertheless, nothing tends so greatly to enchance the one or retard the other
as over-eagerness and anxiety. Birds that are captured in nets and snares become inextricably
entangled therein, because they flutter and struggle so much. Therefore, whensoever you urgently
desire to be delivered from any evil, or to attain some good thing, strive above all else to keep a
calm, restful spirit,—steady your judgment and will, and then go quietly and easily after your object,
taking all fitting means to attain thereto. By easily I do not mean carelessly, but without eagerness,
disquietude or anxiety; otherwise, so far from bringing about what you wish, you will hinder it,
and add more and more to your perplexities. “My soul is always in my hand, yet do I not forget Thy
Law,”  David says. Examine yourself often, at least night and morning, as to whether your soul
is “in your hand;” or whether it has been wrested thence by any passionate or anxious emotion. whether your soul is fully under control, or whether it has not in anywise escaped from beneath
your hand, to plunge into some unruly love, hate, envy, lust, fear, vexation or joy. And if it has so
strayed, before all else seek it out, and quietly bring it back to the Presence of God, once more
placing all your hopes and affections under the direction of His Holy Will. Just as one who fears
to lose some precious possession holds it tight in his hand, so, like King David, we ought to be able
to say, “My soul is always in my hand, and therefore I have not forgotten Thy Law.”
Do not allow any wishes to disturb your mind under the pretext of their being trifling and
unimportant; for if they gain the day, greater and weightier matters will find your heart more
accessible to disturbance. When you are conscious that you are growing anxious, commend yourself to God, and resolve steadfastly not to take any steps whatever to obtain the result you desire, until
your disturbed state of mind is altogether quieted;—unless indeed it should be necessary to do
something without delay, in which case you must restrain the rush of inclination, moderating it, as
far as possible, so as to act rather from reason than impulse.
If you can lay your anxiety before your spiritual guide, or at least before some trusty and devout friend, you may be sure that you will find great solace. The heart finds relief in telling its troubles
to another, just as the body when suffering from persistent fever finds relief from bleeding. It is
the best of remedies, and therefore it was that S. Louis counseled his son, “If thou hast any
uneasiness lying heavy on thy heart, tell it forthwith to thy confessor, or to some other pious person,
and the comfort he will give will enable thee to bear it easily.