Have you ever heard the saying, “If you love something, set it free”?

I’ve always loved this quote, especially when it comes to relationships—romantic partnerships in particular. It’s a reminder that holding onto someone too tightly can make it hard for them to breathe. You can, in fact, suffocate someone with rules, requirements, and expectations, even if the “cage” you’re building feels beautifully gilded.

Lately, I’ve come to realize how true this is about other areas of my life too.

Looking back, I shouldn’t be surprised. My inner control freak should’ve tipped me off long ago. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to make sure everything goes exactly the way I want it to. I’ve wrangled, finagled, and fussed over minor details to no end.

In some ways, this made me a natural fit for the corporate world—and even for launching a business like Storm Wisdom. But here’s the thing about trying to control everything: it’s impossible to know what you might be stifling or preventing. Maybe it’s creativity. Maybe it’s timing. Maybe it’s a possibility so much better than anything you could’ve imagined.

That’s the realization I keep bumping up against lately—or, let’s be honest, the wall I keep banging my head against.

At least I can laugh about it. Last week, I wrote about seeing life through “old lenses,” and that reflection brought me right back to this familiar insight: the illusion of control. It seems like life just loves waving this one at me—again and again.

But here’s the thing. As I sit with this today, it doesn’t feel like starting over. Instead, it feels like revisiting a familiar road, one I’ve walked before. I know how to navigate it.

At least until the next time I forget.

What about you? Is there an area of your life where you’re holding on too tightly? What might happen if you set it free? Could you make space for creativity, timing, or something even better to unfold?

Take a moment to reflect. You might find a new (or familiar) road worth exploring.