I Can Control Myself

There are times when I sit, thinking about what is going on in the world. Over the years, I’ve learned that there is not much I can control in this life. Wars, leaders having power trips, working for their own best interest and not that of the people they are sworn to represent. Whether I voted them in or not, or whether they are in different countries, if they are not working for the sole greater good for all people, they are in the wrong job. Still, none of this I can control. So what can I control then? I can control myself. Below is a list of things I (we) can control:

• I can control how I interact with people and how I react in every situation. These responses are key. How you interact with people flows beyond that person to others. Anger feeds anger and generates negative emotions, such as hatred, depression, moodiness, and indifference. Love spreads love, generating joy, compassion, acceptance, spreading light in the world.

• I can offer help and assistance, treating everyone as a cherished sister or brother. That is what we are, after all, spiritual brothers and sisters. When we turn a blind eye, we help no one, not even ourselves. Nothing changes. However, when we take a few minutes, hours, or even days to help others, we spread love and kindness. Compassion wins out over heartlessness. Sometimes help is as simple as purchasing food for someone and donating it to a food bank or church pantry. Other times, it could be offering help to someone older who is in need of assistance. There are many ways to offer help. Not all require money, nor do all require hours and hours of your time. Find what works for you and commit to doing it.

• I can stand up when something is wrong, putting a voice to what is right. This is not always an effortless task. It can be easier to walk along in silence, or worse, to follow along so as not to cause disruption. When my life comes to an end, I want to know that I stood up and spoke out when it mattered. Whether a small issue or large, we must always try to do what is right, protect the innocent, and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

• I can represent my faith, my Lord, in a positive manner, going where God leads me, and doing what he asks of me. I can carry his compassionate heart in mine and do my best to show it to the world. Sometimes, this too can be hard. It requires forgiveness for even the most unimaginable offences, and not judging someone when they make a mistake (or several). These are not easy tasks, but when we struggle, we have the ultimate example in Jesus.

• I can pray, every day. Praying for peace in the world and in the hearts of the troubled, as well as all those suffering, hungry, and the poor is something we can all do. I can pray for understanding, and my own forgiveness for my shortcomings. Prayer is a powerful thing. It shines light into the dark areas of the world and brings peace.

• I can hand to God what I cannot handle. The things that are out of my control, and then trust him to handle it. This is hard. Handing over sorrow, worry, pain, fear and frustration are not always easy things to let go. I’ve often pulled them back, only to hand them over again. Finally, I came to this conclusion, we either trust him or we don’t. I trust him. Completely. Fully. Handing over what is out of my control has brought a level of peace to my life that I have not previously known. 

There are many more things I can control that are not listed above. Personally, I am working on them all the time. I don’t always succeed, but I try. When I fail, I try harder the next time. Eventually, I will get it right.

So, while we cannot control everything that is happening in life, we can spread light, joy, and love by doing what is within our realm of control. If you find yourself asking, “What can I control?” Answer yourself by saying, “I can control myself.”

Free inspirational or motivational posts can be found on the inspirational page of Leslie’s website.