Last week, an issue was bothering me. I had done everything in my control to take care of it. But there were so many factors I had no control over. Every night, as I would sleep, my mind would be beset with worries. I felt the burden of a million negative thoughts about  how everything would go wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I could not focus on anything positive. I tried meditating, positive thinking, trying not to think, but nothing worked.

Then, I read about the God-box. And what is it exactly? Any box, where you put in your worries, wishes, to be taken care of by God. Immediately, I set about searching for a box, and found a beautiful one. I quickly wrote a request to God entrusting my issue and worries to him. As I went through this symbolic gesture of first finding the God-box, then writing my request, and then placing it inside, I felt a positive rush. It was an amazing feeling, and I slept peacefully that night, and every night since. Is my issue resolved? No, it is a Work in progress, but I am happier knowing I have now entrusted it to God, and that things are taken care of.

I also shared this thought with my parents and son. My son, who had started his new school in Pune, tearfully told me how he missed his old friend Apurva. We quickly put a wish in the box for him and his tears turned to excitement at the prospect of making new friends.

Two days later, my son came home from school to tell me about three new friends he made, one of them being another Apurva. He beamed at me, and sneaked a look at the God-box as though he was now thinking of what he could put in it next!  Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

Try making your own God-box at home, or create any other symbolic gesture which helps you release your worries. And get ready to welcome the many happy co-incidences that will follow!

Aditi Patil is an amateur writer and has published stories on the Femina website and in two editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has also written two children’s books which she is now sending to publishers.  She blogs at  http://sunshine-in-a-box.blogspot.com