There are numerous things you have zero control over. You can’t control the weather, the economy, or the actions of others. Yes, you might be able to exert some influence, but this is different than control.
Many of us spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about these things. It’s a complete waste of time. Worry does nothing to change them. It only makes us miserable. It also turns us into victims.
But you and I have 100% control of the one thing that is the most important to our success: ourselves. We can control our attitude, our thoughts, our words, our emotions, and our behavior. This is what makes us human. We are not automatons. We have a choice.
This power is more important than you can imagine. Some people are aware of it; most are not. Frankly, it is easier to sit on the sidelines and whine about the stuff you can’t control that to own up to what you do control. (I’m preaching to myself here as well.)
But the courageous thing to do is to jump into life with both feet and take responsibility for your life. Decide to be happy. Decide to be productive. Decide to make a difference.
We have more control than you think.
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Amen! I hate hearing people play the blame game and blame everyone from their parents to their co-workers for making them the way they are. It's time people take responsibility for their actions and their attitudes.
This is huge! In Iraq, I see many Soldiers who have issues that occur back home. They simply can not stop what they are doing and jump on a plane to go fix what ever crisis has hit them and/or their family. But they still have control of so many things–in a time when everything seems uncontrollable. Thank you for these thoughts.
@jasondtaylor
I was working through a journal entry in Walking With God (Journal) by Eldredge today. The thought was taking captive our speculations and imagination. With God's grace, today, I hope to keep my imagination sanctified. I have some level of control over what I allow my mind to mull over and speculate on. if it's not helpful, and positive, then it won't be something I spend time on today.
"We can control your attitude, our thoughts, our words, our emotions, and our behavior."
You can't control my attitude, unless you're my wife.
:)
NICE! I echo what Colleen said…it's so true.
Let's see, today, I'm going to chose to have a great day. Attitude is a choice, a decision, so there you have it.
Great post, today. Thanks.
I'm on prescription meds for face pain, and my girlies are all home sick from school. BUT I'm going to choose joy. And do something to encourage someone in a worse situation than me.
Great post, Michael!
Things I can't control are knocking me for a loop right now, so I guess I'll focus on my attitude–which I can control. Thanks for the reminder.
Hmm. First thing that came to mind was Romans 7:19 'For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." On my own, I have little control over my sinful nature. But Romans 13:14 says "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." That being the case, I'll spend some time today with my Lord, making sure my thoughts are trained on Him, thereby not allowing myself to focus on the wrong things that will cause me to make bad decisions and commit sin.
I can't be good enough on my own, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can overcome.
One of the most important decisions I've made in my life was 20 years ago, when I decided I would be happy, regardless of circumstances. That decision has paid dividends over and over in my life, taking the power away from circumstances to control my sense of joy and well-being. That decision has been an anchor in my soul. Thank you for your subtle but significant reminder that the decision is ours.
Just what I needed to hear today, Michael. I'm struggling with controlling my passions, especially regarding food and drink, having just begun the Lenten fast. And also with laziness concerning my (renewed) commitment to exercise. How good to be reminded that while I can't control the past–things that happened to me that might increase my struggles with certain behaviors–I can, with God's help, embrace the present with hope. One day at a time. I'm off to the gym to workout!
I love the picture of you and your darling lady! And I enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for the encouraging word!
This post reminds me of what Sir Winston Churchill once said, "Our achievements of today are but the sum total of our thoughts of yesterday."
This reminds me of what I was reading last night in Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. That boundaries are what we can control about OURSELVES, not what we can control about other people. Like we can say, "No I don't want to do that" or say, "If you keep talking to me like that, I will walk away." Its what we do, not what we make others do. I think this is very powerful.
Thanks, Michael. A good reminder … and a timely one for me.
Great post, Michael. Today, I can control my choices and that's all that I need to do for right now. Love the new blog format. Very nice!
Trish
http://www.trishlawrence.com/blog
@trishlawrence
As the Sister Hazel song goes,
"If you wanna be somebody else
if you're tired of fighting battles with yourself,
if you wanna be somebody else,
change your mind."
Very honest and very true. I don't think God wants to hear us whine any more than our friends, family and neighbours do, so it's better to put things into perspective and ask God to help us change ourselves and our attitude.
I've learned to think positive and be thankful. It wasn't easy but oh so worth it. Worrying is such a life sucker. I've lost too many years thinking about the worst case scenerios. Time to stop that and really live. Joy follows!
The last fruit of the spirit listed in self-control (Gal. 5:22, 23).
One area I am taking control of is letting go. We like to control what happens to us, when and how. So, the first thing I want to work on is surrendering to God's timing and not my own. My path may look common place to others, but to God it's the perfect place to be: with Him.
I needed this. Thank you.
If only it was true, Michael, if only! But you and I both know full well that no one has 100% self-control, no one has 100% self-determination. We are — whether we admit it or not — subject to our environment, subject to chemical imbalances in our biological make up, subject to the whims of those around us, subject to so many other things.
Yes, we may well have more control than we often think. But 100%? Dream on.
This can be a big pill to swallow but it is the truth. Thanks for that encouragement.
I can control how many words I write, how much effort I put into editing my work, my research, everything that involves the keyboard and what little talent I own.
Thanks for this, however it is not always this simple. One in five people suffer depression and like me it is not ever diagnosed. Combating depression is very often more than deciding to be positive. I battled this for most of my life and it is like riding a bike up a steep hill every day of your life. It is very tiring and after many years hopelessness sets in. There is no relief. Why? Well it is a medical problem of imbalance. It can be treated with medication. I wrote the book 'How I Quit Being Angry' and also a course from the book. I wrote this before I knew about my diagnosis of depression. My journey has been a long and difficult one but I do have victories. However as much as I am in control now, I still get a day when everything goes haywire and I loose control. I could not understand why. A councelor friend of mine who also works with us in our ministry suggested I go and have a test for depression. Bingo!
Medical intervention is the only way to go however deciding to choose positive mindsets is still necessary. But the driving force behind the depression is being rendered impotent now. A great relief, I am in the process of getting the balance right with medication and I know that soon 'I wont know myself'. 57 years of this and I feel I have been cheated of life. Check out http://www.beyondblue.org.au if anyone reading this is interested or suspect either they or a friend may be suffering from this terrible condition. There is information and a quick self test available on the site. Get help, you don't have to suffer anymore.
Bravo, Bravo! I've been musing about this very thing all morning…especially after watching "Good Morning America" this morning and listening to all the victim talk. I don't know what's more pathetic…the politicians who think they can change things or the people who are looking to them to change things.
My recent post What ever happened to self reliance?
Don't know if you see comments to old post but just read this via re-post tweet. Too many people don't take control where they have it but settle for less or blame something else. One added note: One has diminishing control over actions, thoughts, and emotions. Try this: move your fingers (total control of action), think of the only the color green for 10 seconds (almost total control, may have thought "frog" or "money."), now get mad! (Not much control here, but if you change your actions and thoughts, usually your emotions will follow.) As always, thanks for great information and insight.