50 Things You Can Control Right Now
CNN reports that psychic businesses are thriving in this challenging economy—and the clientele has expanded to include more business professionals who are worried about their financial future. According to Columbia Business School’s Professor Gita Johar who studies consumer behavior, the greatest motivation for visiting a psychic is to feel a sense of control.
Honestly, I get the allure; I’ve had my share of readings. Nonetheless, this article got my thinking. Sure, there are lots of things we can’t control: businesses may fold, stocks may plummet, relationships may end…The list is infinite, really. Wouldn’t we be far more effective if we focused on all things we can control instead; if we stopped worrying about the indefinite and started benefiting from the guaranteed?
Right now you can control:
- How many times you smile today.
- How much effort you exert at work.
- Your level of honesty.
- How well you prepare.
- How you act on your feelings.
- How often you say “thank you.”
- When you pull out your wallet for luxuries.
- Whether or not you give someone the benefit of the doubt.
- How you interpret situations.
- Whether or not you compete with people around you.
- How often you notice and appreciate small acts of kindness—they’re everywhere!
- Whether you listen or wait to talk.
- When you walk away from a conversation.
- How nice you are to yourself in your head.
- Whether you think positive or negative thoughts.
- Whether or not you form expectations of people.
- The type of food you eat.
- When you answer someone’s question—or email or call.
- How much time you spend worrying.
-
How many new things you try. - How much exercise you get.
- How many times you swear in traffic.
- Whether or not you plan for the weather.
- How much time you spend trying to convince people you’re right.
- How often you think about your past.
- How many negative articles you read.
- The attention you give to your loved ones when you see them.
- How much you enjoy the things you have right now.
- Whether or not you communicate something that’s on your mind.
- How clean or cluttered you keep your space.
- What books you read.
- How well you network at social events.
- How deeply you breathe when you experience stress.
- How many times you admit you don’t know something—and then learn something new.
- How often you use your influence to help people instead of focusing on building your influence.
- When you ask for help.
- Which commitments you keep and cancel.
- How many risks you take.
- How creative/innovative you are in your thinking.
- How clear you are when you explain your thoughts.
- Whether you formulate a new plan or act on your existing one.
- How much information you get before you make a decision.
- How much information you share with people.
- Whether you smoke or drink (unless you’re an alcoholic, in which case I am not qualified to offer you advice.)
- Whether or not you judge other people.
- Whether you smell good or bad (unless you have some strange resistance to soap and deodorant).
- How much of what other people say you believe.
- How quickly you try again after you fall.
- How many times you say “I love you.”
- How much rest you get at night.
Odds are some of these resonate with you more than others; so what? You can’t do 50 things at once anyways. When I start fixating on something I can’t control, I pick just one of these to think about instead. Minor changes in thinking, I’ve found, lead to major changes in my reality. Do you have any to add to the list?
“You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its width and depth. You can’t control the contour of your face, but you can control its expression. You can’t control the weather, but you can control the atmosphere of your mind. Why worry about things you can’t control when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?” -Unknown
By Lori Deschene, Photo by rorowe8
I love the fortune cookie!! I am printing your list- It is nice that some people are still looking at the bright side! Thanks Lori.
Wow this is a long list. I love it! It’s funny even if there’s one thing I can’t control and 50 things I can, I still obsess about the one I can’t! Maybe another post about shifting your focus? It’s a really hard thing to do. Thanks again for making me think.
GREAT JOB, LORI!!! People really do need to step back and realize that life isnt always that terrible and that their ARE things you can do to better your situation. You’re awesome
Jay~ Glad you like it! When I stepped back and looked at the list, it occurred to me I wouldn’t have time for anything else if I focused on all these things.
Liliana~ Good point. It’s always easier said than done. I’ll work on that for an upcoming post!
Joanna~ Thanks
I couldn’t agree with you more. Nice to see you here!
Great post, Lori. Although I disagree a bit with that last one. Some people are insomniacs
You’re a real self-starter, Lori. It’s wonderful to see such a wealth of positive information from one beautiful blossoming soul. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Blake~ Thanks! I considered that, especially since I am quite the insomniac. But you can still rest even if you don’t sleep, right?
Mark~ Thank you for that beautiful comment. I’m having a great time creating this space, and I’m thrilled you’ve come to visit.
A friend of mine sent this to me because I needed to read something like this today. Liliana has a point. I’m still worried about the other thing but this made me think a little differently. There’s a lot more under our control than we think!
Great list Lori! We often think that making a change can be difficult…this list proves otherwise. It really is the little things that matter. It’s when adding up all the little things…where the big difference occurs. Thanks for this great post today!
Justine~ I hear that. It’s not easy to stop thinking about something that worries you. I’m glad the list gave you some food for different thought
Caroline~ Thank you! That’s exactly what I was thinking: the little things make a big difference when you add them all up.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I often say, “while it might be true that we can’t always control what happens to us, we can always control how we react to what happens to us”. I love the specific examples you gave of those things (big & small) that we have in our control. With the news, politicians, and just about everyone in between bombarding us with how our future is all but finished — I found these to be wonderful reminders that we’ve still got plenty of things which are in our control and as a result of taking action on some of them them we can look forward to both brighter days & a brighter future.
-Josh
Josh~ I say the same thing! I love the quote “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I respond.” I think it’s a very empowering way to look at the world. Thanks for stopping by and adding the conversation. Your thoughts are appreciated
Awesome post! It is hard to remember to focus on the controllable when we are inundated with negativity. Thanks for the gentle nudge to be a part of the solution and own my happiness!
Awesome article very cool. Thanks for sharing
So true. This is a great list! We all have choices — and the choices we make affect our lives. Take care, A.
I’m sorry I never responded to the latest comments here! Sometimes I lose track of a post after it’s been a while. Thank Patti, Suzie, and Anita for reading. I’m glad you found this post helpful!
This is a wonderful and helpful list! It reminds me of the message in the serenity prayer:
God,
Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage
to change the things I can,
and the wisdom
to know the difference.
Thanks so much for sharing this list!
I love that prayer. Beautiful ideas in there =) Thanks for reading and commenting. I’m glad you found this post helpful!