If you try to have everything under control, you will end up disappointed.
No matter how foolproof you think your plans may be, there will always be something that you did not expect. Life is full of unpredictable events and so, we can never fully prepare ourselves for what will happen in the future. It follows then that we cannot have everything under control when there are so many things that are unforeseeable and unexpected. If you are someone who needs to have everything under control, you will often feel stressed, anxious, and frustrated. Instead of putting yourself through such negativity, learn to accept that it is okay to not always be in control.
There are four things you need to remember if you want to live a happier, more fulfilling life.
1. Life is full of uncertainties.
How can you expect yourself to always be in control when life is a series of unexpected events? You cannot predict the future and you should not feel frustrated when things go wrong. Instead of being stressed out by your inability to control the things that happen, focus on controlling how you respond to them. The only thing you can change is how you react.
2. The journey is more important than the destination.
Rather than enjoying the present moment, many people stress about the future and how they are going to achieve their goals. When your mind is constantly living in the future, you fail to notice the blessings that are currently around you. While it is wise to take certain precautions and make plans for the future, stressing over them will only cause you more worries. Focus on the journey, not the destination.
3. Challenges are blessings in disguise.
When your plans fail, do not try to swim against the current. Admittedly, it is normal to feel upset or frustrated. Nevertheless, it is important that you learn how to see the obstacles in your life as blessings. While you may struggle today, you will later understand that the challenges you faced were actually valuable lessons.
4. You can only control how you feel and respond.
Of course, we all want to be able to control the things around us. If we could control the things that happen, we would prevent heartbreak, pain, and sadness. Unfortunately, life does not work this way. There is, however, one thing we can control: ourselves. Knowing that you are the only one responsible for your happiness and fulfillment is empowering. Instead of stressing about the external world, focus inward.
Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.
― Steve Maraboli
