Control the controllables

I have been struggling with the things that are beyond my control lately. I am frustrated at people for not wearing masks in places that require masks to protect others from Covid-19. I am frustrated with people who refuse to get the vaccine because they “did their research” and don’t trust what is in it but they will eat a cheeseburger from McDonalds and not question what is in that. I get angry with people yelling at store managers for requiring a mask as they scream about their “right to breathe.” I’m frustrated with aggressive and angry drivers on the road. I am mad about the convictions of innocent people and acquittals of guilty people. I’m angry at police brutality and the killing of unarmed black and brown men and women. I’m angry at white supremacists and insurrection. I’m pissed off at the voting rights of people being stripped away. I could go on and on.

There are times that these frustrations are taking over my mindset and my point of view. They cloud my judgement and they control my thoughts. They infiltrate my psyche. Anxiety and depression creep in and before you know it, I am doom scrolling before going to sleep, then struggling to fall asleep and then having bad dreams once I do get to a REM cycle.

This is not a recipe for joy or happiness. So I have made changes.

I deleted Tik Tok from my phone. I have been meditating every morning since November 1st. I have been reframing limiting stories that are holding me back. I have been walking more and going to physical therapy regularly to alleviate my back pain. I have been drinking more water and eating more vegetables. I have been reading before I go to sleep, not scrolling on my phone for an hour.

While those potential stressors are still there- the non-mask wearers, the anti-vaxxers and the news story headlines that are alarming, I have changed my habits and my mindset so that these things do not take control over me. I have taken some sense of control back.

We have control over our choices. The choices we make create our experiences. Our experiences create our life.

So what are you doing to control what you can? What choices are you making? How are you creating your life? What small change can you make today?

Keep going. You got this. Your future self will thank you.