When you try to control too much, life becomes much harder to enjoy. Sometimes you just need to let go and let God take control. Relax, take a deep breath and be grateful for what you have.
Last week I met up with an old friend, someone whom I care about deeply. Someone I worry about constantly, as they take no care of their health. Over the years I have watched them turn from someone that could run a half marathon to someone that is out of breath walking up a few flights of stairs.
All I want is for them to eat healthier and take some exercise to give them a better quality of life but sadly that’s not reality.
When I reflected on the situation I realise that there is nothing I can do. Because I’m not in control of anyone but myself. I want to help my friend, but they’re not interested in being helped.
So I made a decision, to let go. to surrender.
Not “let go” as in “let them go.” I “let go” as in I stopped trying to control them, I’ve stopped trying to change them. What is the point of me getting stressed and worried if they are not willing to change.
And this, I’ve learned, is the best way to be in all walks of life…
When you let go of control, you stop trying to change people, and just dissolve into their presence, just noticing who they really are, just appreciating them, faults and all.
When you let go of control you will notice just how much time you spend trying to control. Not just people, but the events in your life.
Don’t get me wrong, you will still get stressed and worry, but you will notice that you snap out of it sooner. So instead of being stressed, for example, for the rest of the day, or week. Your only stressed for a short time.
You’ll start to notice just how much pressure you put on yourself by trying to have everything work out exactly as you would like.
When you let go of control and let God take control here’s what you gain…
1. You fall in love with people for who they really are
It’s OK to disagree with the thoughts or opinions expressed by those you love, but you must accept their opinion. Learn to appreciate different perspectives, lifestyles, and opinions, even if it means overcoming your pride and opening your mind beyond what’s comfortable.
Love is about letting those we care about be 100% themselves, and not distorting them to fit our own ideas of who we think they should be.
2. You grow beyond everyone’s judgements
How often have you been judged? How often has the direction of your life been shaped by such judgements? Think about it.
How many opportunities have you been denied — or, for that matter, been granted — because someone failed to understand you completely? And how often have you let other peoples judgements make you upset or stress you out because you thought you could control the way everyone sees you?
The truth is, people will see what they want to see whether you worry about it or not.
It’s time to let go of trying to control how everyone perceives you.
It’s time to let God take control, and just do the best you can.
3. You get to enjoy the peace that’s already within you
Realize that, somewhere within you, there exists a spirit that is eternally at peace. Because inner peace does not depend on external conditions — it’s what remains when you surrender the need to control.
The need for something to be different is nothing more than worry and worries like this only lead us in circles.
Peace of mind arrives the moment you come to peace with what’s on your mind, and this happens when you let go of the need for things to be different than they are. What’s happened has happened, and no amount of complaining or worry is going to change that fact.
4. You learn more about how life really works.
When you attempt to control the uncontrollable you create resistance. You resist how everything works rather than learning about it. So here’s a simple challenge for you: Instead of trying to make things work exactly the way you want them to work, just watch them work today.
You’ll learn much more about human nature and the inner workings of the world.
As you see things working without you controlling them, the way you see what you see will gradually change. Because YOU will gradually change. You will begin to understand that things are a little different than you wanted them to be. And that’s perfectly OK.
5. You experience more of life’s pleasant surprises.
Would you really want to be in control of everything, and know your future every step of the way?
If you’re thinking, “yes,” think again. Not knowing is one of life’s greatest gifts.
Life is so full of changeable beauty and magnificent surprises. And sometimes the unexpected arrival of this beauty is almost too much to handle.
Do you know that feeling? When you get a breakthrough or some good news that gives you the lift you need to restore your faith…
Do you really want to miss out on them moments for the rest of your life?
6. You free your mind from needless worries.
The world around you is going to spin one way or the other. So why not allow God to bless you in surprising and joyful ways?
Think about it…
What if, instead of pushing so hard to make life happen every second, you decided to let go a little and allow life to happen to you sometimes?
What if, instead of trying to be in constant control, you simply surrendered control to something bigger than yourself?
What if, instead of working so hard to figure out every last answer, you allowed yourself to be guided to the solution in perfect timing?
And what if, there was no solution needed at all?
7. You get more of what you want, by doing less.
When you let go and let God take control instead of trying to tightly control everything, you will be happier and have more peace.
You will notice that things will take care of themselves. You will have less stress, less worry, and more time and energy to work on the things that matter — the things you actually can control — like your attitude about everything.
Let God Take Control
The mind is the place where the greatest conflict resides.
It’s where… half of the things you thought were going to happen, never did.
It’s where… your expectations always get the best of you.
It’s where… you fall victim to your cravings to control the uncontrollable.
And if you allow those thoughts and cravings to dwell in your mind, they will succeed in robbing you of peace, joy, and ultimately your life. You will think yourself into a nervous breakdown, into depression, and into defeat.
Truthfully, there’s so much about life that you can’t control, it makes no sense to waste your energy on these things and then neglect everything you can control.
You can decide how you spend your time, whom you socialize with, whom you share your life, money and energy with. You can choose to love and appreciate the people in your life for exactly who they are.
You can choose how you’re going to respond to surprises and disappointments when they arise, and whether you will see them as curses or opportunities for emotional growth…
And most importantly, you can choose to let go of control and adjust your attitude in an instant, which dictates pretty much everything else.
Thanks for reading.
Live Today With Faith 