We often want to control everything around us. The people we are close to, our environment, or even the outcome of every situation. But the more we try to control everything, the more anxious we’ll feel.
You worry, try to gain control, fail, and worry again. It’s a cycle.
Worrying about things you can’t control will drain you. I know it’s easier said than done but if you constantly remember what you can and cannot control it will become easier over time.
So my best advice is to: List The Things You Can Vs. Can’t Control
This exercise is especially helpful for worriers/overthinkers. It’s a visual way to see what you can’t control. I’m gonna help you create that list.
There are so many factors at play that you simply cannot control them all. The following list should help to put into perspective what is not in your real control:
Things you can’t control
- What do other people think of you
- What happens around you
- The passage of time
- How other people treat you
- If people like or dislike you
- Other people’s actions
- Other people’s feelings
- Other people’s beliefs
- Other people’s thoughts
- The weather
- Natural disasters
- Your physical needs
- The past
- That change is inevitable
- The future
- The exact outcome. Of anything.
But, for everything you can’t control, there is usually something you can control instead. Below is a list of those things. But as a general rule, you are in control of your actions and reactions whenever your life feels out of control.
Things you can control
- Your beliefs
- Your attitude
- Your perspective
- Your honesty
- How you treat yourself and others
- The risks you take
- How kind you are to yourself and others
- How do you interpret situations
- How you spend your money
- How much do you waste worrying
- Your effort
- Your support and understanding of others
- Your actions toward others
- Your reactions to what other people say and do
- Who do you spend time with
- How do you spend your time
- Where do you put your energy
- Taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional needs
- Expressing gratitude
- Holding onto emotions or letting them go
- Practicing personal growth
- Being present
- Being open to opportunities
- Your actions
- Your reactions
You cannot control the emotions, thoughts, or memories that torment you, but you can control how you choose to respond to them. That is your power. So let go and focus on what you can control today.
Always remember this: if it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind too.
See you in the next week ❤