Control What You Can — And Let Go of the Rest

Let’s be honest: most of us are control freaks in one way or another. We want certain outcomes, we pray, we plan, we hope, and we wish for things to turn out exactly the way we imagine. But life has a funny way of reminding us that not everything is in our hands.

There are the “what ifs,” the outliers, the unpredictable moments that throw us off balance. Sure, we tell ourselves to be prepared. We buy insurance, run through emergency drills, and take preventive training. But all of that preparation really serves one purpose—it calms the mind. Because when the real thing happens, all bets are off.

No amount of drills or practice can predict what life will throw at you. The only thing you can prepare is your mind—to accept.

Accept the outcome.
Accept the chaos.
Accept the unpredictable.

Good or bad, the outcome is what it is. You can delay it, deny it, or wrestle with it—but eventually, it settles in.

I think about this a lot when I look at my parents. They meant well. They tried to control every detail of their children’s lives, laying out a “perfect path” for us to follow. They disciplined us when we wandered off track, hoping to protect us from pain and steer us toward success. But here’s the truth—even when you try to control your own creation, life still has its surprises.

Now that I’m a parent myself, I see it clearly. My son has a mind of his own—just like I did. No matter how much I want to guide or protect him, he’s going to carve out his own path. And that’s okay. That’s life.

The same rule applies to everything else—the choices people make, their reactions, their actions. None of it is under your control.

So what can you control?
Your thoughts.
Your actions.
Your attitude.

That’s it.

Instead of wasting your energy worrying about what others are doing, sometimes the best thing you can do is stay in your lane, control yourself, and trust the process. With the right mindset, a dash of patience, and maybe a little humor, the rest of the world just might fall into place as it should.

If this message spoke to you, take a moment to share it with someone who needs a reminder to let go and breathe. Subscribe to my blog for more real-life reflections on growth, mindset, and finding peace in the unpredictable.