I was thinking about control the other day and how we don’t have control over a lot of things that happen in our lives. We can’t control the weather, our friends and family or the other drivers. Sometimes this can be rather frustrating for me. Where is spring? Why is it still chilly here? Why is that person tailgating me? Who’s going to be nice and let me change lanes?
So, last weekend when I heard someone say that being in control of our lives is just an illusion, I immediately nodded my head in agreement. After all, just look at the list of things I can’t control. The list of things I can’t control is infinite.
Then I remembered the one thing I do have control of in all situations. I am in control of how I choose to react in each situation I’m in or observe. I get to choose whether the guy tailgating me annoys the heck out of me or not. I get to choose if I complain about the cold day or enjoy the fact that the sun is out. You get to make those same decisions in your life.
So, is control an illusion? I guess it depends on what you’re trying to control. Are you trying to control the situation or your reaction to the situation? I find it’s less stressful for me when I make the decision to control my reaction, rather than the situation.
What do you think?