At the moment I am on a flight leaving several situations behind that I have been trying to control. And I’m headed towards a couple of others that I have been trying to control too. None of my attempts at control have been working. In fact, they’ve been dismal failures.
The only real thing I have achieved in the midst of all this, is frustration.
But isn’t that always the case when we think we need to control anything?
The truth is I have been reminding myself (a lot!), that when I set down the need for other people, places, or things to look, feel, respond, or happen in a particular way.., they usually work out the way they should. Things get resolved in ways that perhaps I could not imagine.
At least in hindsight, that is how it feels.
I wish I could say these are all new personal insights. But in truth, I have traveled versions of this road before. I have come to the same realizations before.
In the past I would take this to mean that I hadn’t “learned the lesson” and I was starting from scratch.
These days, I just look at these repeats, as peeling off a new layer. Of course since I am quite familiar with trying to control things, I must say to be experiencing so many situations or circumstances back-to-back like the past couple of weeks, with the number of layers I have removed, I should be naked by now! The grand reminder; Control is an illusion.
In fact, in everyone of these situations, letting them unfold naturally is actually quite elegant.
But boy.., do I want it my way!
But once again, the Universe has its own plan! And as history repeats itself, I’m confident, it will be ideal for me too.
Charles, I resonate so much with what you have written here, and I thank you for sharing. It’s absolutely true, control is an illusion, and the willingness to “let situations unfold naturally” as you say “IS quite elegant.”
I also love the idea of perceiving it as another (new) layer, rather than the idea of having failed. I really benefit from hearing that right now.
May you experience the relief that comes with letting go and trusting the process, very soon.
Thanks Vikki… I am still trying to remind myself moment to moment.