We humans have an uncanny ability. Somehow, we try to control too much and at the same time pass on what we do have responsibility over. We want to control others and avoid taking ownership for what we actually can control. We blame when our responsibilities aren’t met while we try desperately to manipulate the stewardship of others.
Innately, we recognize there is some balance to be found. There are things out of our control and things within them. An improper treatment of the balance leads to victim mentality and codependency. But a healthy understanding allows us to make our choices with confidence and let go of the things that do not belong to us.
We can only control three things in this world. Our attitude/perspective, our choices, and whom we trust. That’s it. Three things for just one person out of the billions on this planet.
By naming these three things and focusing our attention, we can free ourselves from wasting so much time trying to manipulate all of the factors, people, and circumstances that stubbornly refuse our efforts to control them.
In the same vein, taking ownership of these three things will feed the longing inside of us to participate and take meaningful action. It’s not that we should do nothing. There is danger on that side of the spectrum too. We should do what we are meant to do. Nothing less and nothing more.