The thing that keeps me from fearlessly facing the future is a profound lack of trust that things will turn out well. Is that a deal-breaker?

While I intuitively understand the idea “lay down all thoughts” and “surrender to the void,” I remain anxious over the possibility of a nasty fall. Bad things happen to good people all the time. Optimism and faith aren’t the same things.

Simple, right? But I’ve got to make dinner and walk the damn dog! And needless to say, I don’t command the earning power of Lennon and McCartney, which would provide more than enough dough to stave off uncertainty. Is there a method for “mindfully” trusting the universe that doesn’t involve subscription to religious dogma? I’ve got a definite commitment problem in that area.

Yeah, money is a harsh mistress. There’s barely enough to cover survival necessities, much less the time and freedom to improve your spirit.