Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.

The image of a “cycle” of thoughts “whirling” suggests worry as motion without progress: mental energy expended in repetitive loops that do not solve the underlying problem. Calling the thoughts “inefficient” frames worry as a poor use of attention—busy, but unproductive—while locating its “center” in fear identifies the emotional driver that keeps the loop spinning. The line implies that to reduce worry one must address fear itself (through courage, trust, action, or reframing), rather than merely trying to suppress anxious thoughts. The metaphor also hints at how worry can become self-reinforcing: fear generates worry, and worry amplifies fear.