Control What You Can and Let Go of the Rest!
March 29, 2023
“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.”
This quote, attributed to American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, spells out a simple but impactful rule for peaceful living in just a few words. First written in 1943, the quote has been printed in motivational materials ever since. You’ve probably even seen it passed around on social media. But when the stress and anxiety of major life changes take over, we often forget to pause and recall this powerful lesson.
Due to an ironic twist of psychology, we often grasp more tightly to things as they’re slipping away. That can be said of relationships, opportunities, and even material possessions.
But how does that tend to work out? Have you ever watched a friend cling to a former partner after the relationship dissolved? What if your boss fired you, and you refused to leave? Can you stand in the way of a landslide as it threatens to destroy your home?
It’s easy to see that any of the above actions only add to the pain and destruction, rather than preventing it. You can recognize this truth now, standing on the outside of a theoretical situation and examining it objectively. But when we panic, logic tends to fly out the window and emotion takes over.
It’s only natural that you want to take action. But the wise take action in ways that will matter. These simple steps can help you stay grounded in times of anxiety and stress:
- Ask yourself whether you realistically have any ability to change the situation.
- Identify the potential negative consequences, in the event that you attempt to control the outcome.
- Determine the things you can’t, or shouldn’t attempt, to change.
- Ask yourself what you can change about the situation. Devote yourself to that.
- Gradually move toward acceptance.
Often, the only things we can change about a situation involve our thought processes and reactions. But don’t discount how powerful those can be! Truly, the person who masters their own mind first is the person who can then move along and master other areas of life.
In the meantime, remember that we’re here to support you during major life transitions. Getting organized is often the first step to controlling the things you can, so give us a call to learn more about our safe, clean, and convenient self-storage options. Remember, at Ranch RV and Self-Storage, our goal is to provide friendliness, cleanliness, and peace of mind.