I can’t tell you how many times in my life I have been told that I have “control issues”. Historically, this statement has brought me annoyance—the kind of irritation that can only be described as a self-protective reaction to having my behaviours labelled for exactly what they were. Needless to say, these accusations would make me defensive. I’d pull my armour tighter and get out my weapons—anything to protect myself from the truth.I realized, one day, that there were only a few things I could control, and a whole lot of things that I couldn’t. I realized that trying to control everything around me was a recipe for failure, because it simply wasn’t possible.I wish I could tell you that I “let go” then—that it was a lovely, beautiful spiritual moment, and now I’m all better. But that isn’t true. Because, for me, seeking to control things which can’t be controlled isn’t a random tick or flaw. It’s a stage of communication in the language of my own mind. If I don’t listen to the first whispers that tell me I’ve repressed some emotion or neglected to process some event—then, stage two starts. Every piece of dirt on the floor, every chewing noise, every unexpected obstacle… they all become intolerable.So, I have two choices when this happens. I can allow my desire to control the outside world to turn into trying to control it. Or, I can allow myself to hear what is being said to me—to interpret this strange language that I speak to myself in and respond with compassion.Do I consistently do the wise thing first? No. I forget. And then I remember, somewhere in the middle of neurotically scrubbing a wall. But I remember faster now than I did before, and sometimes I really am able to respond quickly.It’s a journey. I’m not perfect. But I am doing the right thing, and I get better at it every time I have the chance to practice. That’s what learning and letting go really is—a practice. It’s never over. And it never is, and never will be, perfect.
I can’t tell you how many times in my life I have been told that I have “control issues”. Historically, this statement has brought me annoyance—the kind of irritation that can only be described as a self-protective reaction to having my behaviours labelled for exactly what they were. Needless to say, these accusations would make me defensive. I’d pull my armour tighter and get out my weapons—anything to protect myself from the truth.I realized, one day, that there were only a few things I could control, and a whole lot of things that I couldn’t. I realized that trying to control everything around me was a recipe for failure, because it simply wasn’t possible.I wish I could tell you that I “let go” then—that it was a lovely, beautiful spiritual moment, and now I’m all better. But that isn’t true. Because, for me, seeking to control things which can’t be controlled isn’t a random tick or flaw. It’s a stage of communication in the language of my own mind. If I don’t listen to the first whispers that tell me I’ve repressed some emotion or neglected to process some event—then, stage two starts. Every piece of dirt on the floor, every chewing noise, every unexpected obstacle… they all become intolerable.So, I have two choices when this happens. I can allow my desire to control the outside world to turn into trying to control it. Or, I can allow myself to hear what is being said to me—to interpret this strange language that I speak to myself in and respond with compassion.Do I consistently do the wise thing first? No. I forget. And then I remember, somewhere in the middle of neurotically scrubbing a wall. But I remember faster now than I did before, and sometimes I really am able to respond quickly.It’s a journey. I’m not perfect. But I am doing the right thing, and I get better at it every time I have the chance to practice. That’s what learning and letting go really is—a practice. It’s never over. And it never is, and never will be, perfect.
